Kevin De Bruyne Faces Extended Layoff with Thigh Injury

Naples, Italy - Napoli's fears regarding Kevin De Bruyne have been confirmed, as the star midfielder faces several months on the sidelines due to a severe thigh muscle lesion. The setback occurred during Napoli's 3-1 victory over Inter Milan when De Bruyne pulled up shortly after scoring a penalty. Clearly in distress, he was assisted off the pitch, and later, he was observed on the bench, his thigh heavily strapped and crutches by his side.

The club released a statement on Monday detailing the extent of the injury, revealed by instrumental tests at the Pineta Grande Hospital. It is a high-grade lesion to the femoral bicep in his right thigh. The rehabilitation process for De Bruyne has already commenced. While an exact return date hasn't been specified, the injury resembles that of teammate Romelu Lukaku, who is anticipated to return by January.

De Bruyne's penalty during the match brought his tally to four goals in eight Serie A appearances, propelling Napoli to a joint top position in the league. However, this accomplishment might come at a significant loss. In addition to De Bruyne, Napoli is also contending with the absence of another injured midfielder, Stanislav Lobotka, and will miss Frank Anguissa, who will represent Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations between December and January.

The Belgian national team also faces a challenging period, with critical World Cup qualifiers scheduled next month. De Bruyne, having scored six goals in his last five international outings, will be a significant miss for Belgium. This development adds complexity to both Napoli and Belgium's campaign plans. AP SSC SSC

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