Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has said that he is working hard to be ready for the start of the new Premier League season in a week's time.
The 25-year-old missed City's pre-season schedule following Belgium's run at Euro 2016 but is now back in training with Pep Guardiola's side ahead of their opening-day encounter with Sunderland on August 13.
"Fitness-wise I feel OK," De Bruyne told Sky Sports News. "I trained a lot already a little bit in the vacation and now I'm doing fine.
"At full fitness, it's difficult to say [if I will be ready by August 13]. I reckon not but probably I will be there around my full fitness and the season is long."
De Bruyne went on to admit that he is excited by the team's change of direction under Guardiola, who replaced Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad this summer.
"Tactically he's going to change a few things," he added. "Obviously for me it is a little bit difficult to say because I just came in last Friday.
"I'm working now quickly on my fitness to come back as fast as I can but there's already a few changes and I'm looking forward to how he's going to manage a team and change some things tactically."
De Bruyne notched up seven goals and nine assists during his debut season with City last term.
Neil Wilkes
