Kevin De Bruyne injury gives six Man City players chance to earn spot in Pep Guardiola XI

It's not often Manchester City's midfield looks so unsettled but Pep Guardiola goes into the new season with two openings in the middle. But with openings comes opportunities, all that's needed is for someone to grasp them.

One of the slots is only on a temporary basis. Kevin De Bruyne valiantly fought on through a hamstring injury during the crucial end-of-season run-in as City closed in on the treble but the wear and tear finally caught up with him at the worst possible time, half an hour into the Champions League final. It was heartbreaking for the Belgian who was also forced off in his first Champions League final appearance two years earlier but at least this time the Blues emerged victorious.

The hamstring tear is expected to see De Bruyne miss the start of the new campaign. The time frame for his recovery has not been officially confirmed but has been predicted given the severity of the injury. Should the 32-year-old miss out on the opening games, it will mean both attacking midfield positions will need to be filled.

That's because the man who tended to play alongside him, Ilkay Gundogan, has left the club for Barcelona. Losing the captain, who had been so pivotal to the treble triumph, is a huge blow and it will be interesting to see how Guardiola lines up his midfield in the absence of one of his most important players.

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Thankfully for City, despite missing out on Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, they still have plenty of contenders and if De Bruyne is unavailable for a spell it will give them more opportunities to come into the side and stake their claim. De Bruyne will reclaim his spot when fully fit, but the Gundogan-shaped hole