For the first time since having surgery to treat a recurring hamstring issue last summer, Kevin De Bruyne has been pictured during Manchester City practice.

The Belgium international playmaker has not been available for Manchester City since early August when he initially suffered a hamstring injury during the Premier League match at Turf Moor against Burnley.

The player, Manchester City, and medical experts decided that surgery was necessary to address the issue, which was a recurrence of an injury sustained in the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul at the end of the previous season, to prevent it from happening again in the future.

Following an extended recuperation period during which De Bruyne did not play for several months, Manchester City supporters have now been given an intriguing update regarding the 32-year-old’s fitness.

For the first time since August, Kevin De Bruyne has been pictured with his teammates performing regular first-team training responsibilities, according to Manchester City and an image posted on their social media accounts on Monday afternoon.

Kevin De Bruyne was also shown back in action on the field of play in a video that MailSport journalist Jack Gaughan shared from the training session. He was participating in a passing drill with players like Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji.

According to some, Kevin De Bruyne might not play for Manchester City again until after the new year, and the away match against Newcastle United might be the best opportunity for him to play 90 minutes again under Pep Guardiola.

During a recent City in the Community charity event, Kevin De Bruyne gave an update on his recuperation process, saying, “It’s going really well.” It was a serious injury, so I had surgery. However, the new year—his initial return date—is drawing nearer. I’m feeling great and I want to go back on the field soon.

“I’m sure I’ll be alright once I’m back on the pitch,” he said. All I want to do is keep getting better at football; that will suffice.

Kevin De Bruyne’s availability for Manchester City at the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup is still unknown, but it’s likely that he will be included in the substitutes for the first time after surgery.

In the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals on Tuesday night, City will play the Japanese team Urawa Red Diamonds. The victor will advance to the final on Friday night, while the loser will go to a third-place play-off in Jeddah.