Man City 5 Huddersfield 0: Kevin De Bruyne Makes Comeback After Five-Month Absence as FA Cup Holders Dominate Championship Strugglers

He’s back and ready to get back to what he does best in no time at all.

Following nearly five months away from the Manchester City squad due to hamstring surgery, Kevin De Bruyne has returned.

Despite spending just thirty-five minutes on the field, he contributed to two goals in the FA Cup holders’ decisive victory.

It makes sense why Jurgen Klopp claimed that the return of the talented Belgian to the team had the entire nation trembling.

Jurgen, you can stop trembling now and worry since it appears he may have a significant impact on the last few months of the season.

The only unanswered question is where Pep Guardiola will deploy him, as Phil Foden has been enjoying his usual center role.

The Three Lions star was outstanding once more in this match, scoring twice as City came alive after a sluggish start.

Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates scoring the opening goal to make it 1-0 in the Emirates FA Cup third round match between Manchester City and Huddersfield Town at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England. Sunday 7th January 2024.

A squad on the verge of the Championship relegation zone visiting the newly crowned world champions’ home was always going to be a hard order.

However, due to injuries and international calls up, Huddersfield manager Darren Moore was also forced to select a lineup without twelve players.

Guardiola had a rare midweek off in the lead-up, but he still decided to make changes to his squad.

Those who were stood down were Ederson, Kyle Walker, and Rodri; Manuel Akanji soon joined them on the bench.

Alex Matos’s strong challenge resulted in a yellow card for him, but in the eighteenth minute, the Swiss defender’s afternoon was over.

His substitute The home team, which had had difficulty getting going in the first few minutes, was energized by Matheus Nunes.

Their early attempts were summed up by an Oscar Bobb shot that bounced wide off teammate Rico Lewis.

However, shortly after the half-hour mark, two goals in four minutes put the tie beyond the visitors.

After Julian Alvarez’s first attempt was stopped, the ball fell into Foden’s path and he powerfully struck it past Lee Nicholls from a close angle.

As Town was gathering their belongings, City scored again after a deft one-two from Nunes, who crashed into the box.

Lewis got hit by his pullback, which was not what he wanted, but Alvarez was able to deflect it over the line and onto target.

The home crowd chanted, “We want ten.”

Despite everything that has transpired since, many still remember the day in 1987 when City defeated the Terriers by scoring ten goals.

When KDB came in to replace Alvarez ten minutes after the restart, he received the biggest applause of the day.

Things began to happen with the Belgian on the field as usual, but oddly, he was not involved when City extended their lead.

Nunes played into Bobb’s path after Mateo Kovacic dribbled a long ball forward that seemed to fall out of the sky.

The young Norwegian’s deft chip over Nicholls brushed the bar’s bottom as it entered.

When Sorba Thomas wriggled free of Ruben Dias, he missed the opportunity to offer Town’s boisterous away supporters some solace, but Ortega made a stop with his feet.

De Bruyne also contributed to City’s fourth goal, as he sent the ball to Sergio Gomez, who then gave it to Kovacic with a shove.

Foden was on the edge of the box when the Croatian found him, and he swept a low shot into the corner.

Perhaps because the legendary KDB has been on his tail lately, the English beauty has enjoyed playing in the center.

The crowd truly wanted a goal for their favorite Belgian, but he whistled a 25-yard attempt that was barely beyond the angle.

The next best thing, though, was to provide an assist, which he did by passing to Bobb and then clipping a cross to the back post.

Jeremy Doku, a substitute and fellow Belgium international who is also recuperating from an injury, was there to score on the half volley.

How much they have missed their star player, and how beneficial it is for City to have him back.