Why Kevin De Bruyne is in Man City squad for Club World Cup

Manchester City have included Kevin De Bruyne in their squad for the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia later this month, but the Belgian will not play any part on the pitch in the tournament.

City head to the Gulf state after their Premier League game against Crystal Palace on Saturday, December 16 and will play their semi-final in Jeddah on Tuesday, December 19, against Mexico's Club Leon or Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan. There will then be a third-fourth place play-off or a final on Friday, December 22.

De Bruyne hasn't played for City since picking up a hamstring injury on the opening day of the season, for which he underwent surgery. Pep Guardiola recently confirmed his captain would only return in January.

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The inclusion of the 32-year-old in City's 23-man squad for the Club World Cup had raised hopes of an early return, but the Manchester Evening News can confirm that De Bruyne will travel with the squad and represent City as a club captain, but he will not be fit enough to play in either game.

De Bruyne said at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that he didn't expect to be back until January and Guardiola issued a similar update a couple of weeks ago.

"If he said January, it will be January," Guardiola said. "I would have loved to have him all season but now he has tough injury and surgery and he said end of December or New Year, so it will be a happy New Year for everyone."

City squad for Club World Cup: Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson, Kyle Walker, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Sergio Gomez, Rico Lewis, Rodri, Kalvin Phillips, Mateo