Pep Guardiola says Kevin De Bruyne will be sidelined for months with a "serious injury".
The Manchester City playmaker suffered another hamstring injury against Burnley last Friday evening, limping off after only 23 minutes.
"It's a serious injury," said Guardiola in his pre-match press conference as his City side prepare to take on Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup tomorrow night.
"We have to decide on surgery but he will be out for a few months. Surgery will be three or four months out, I think so.
"First of all I have to say the injury for Kevin is a blow for us, it's a big loss.
"Kevin has specific qualities that you can lose for one game or two games, but for a long time it's really tough for us. But in this time we have to look forward and we have alternatives there, different skills.
"The skills for Kevin is irreplaceable but we have different players with talent and it's an opportunity life gives you that when there is an injury there is an opportunity for the other ones, and I'm pretty sure they will take it."
Since Guardiola's arrival in 2016, no player in the Premier League has created more chances than De Bruyne's 647.
While Guardiola feels he already has good options at his disposal, West Ham United manager David Moyes has stated that Man City have tabled a bid for midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
When asked about possible transfers, Guardiola said: “We will see. After what happened, we haven’t talked with [the City director of football] Txiki [Begiristain]. We will see the chances and possibilities.”
