Manchester City will not take risks with the fitness of Kevin de Bruyne.

The Mirror says De Bruyne, 27, has made just four starts this season after suffering two serious knee injuries.

And after complaining of muscle soreness after playing 70 minutes of the 2-1 defeat to Leicester on Boxing Day, he was left out of the squad that won at Southampton and was an unused substitute in City's 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Thursday night.

De Bruyne could play some part when City meet Rotherham in the FA Cup and a decision will then be taken on his availability to face Burton in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.

But City's medics are monitoring the Belgian international on a day-by-day basis. De Bruyne does not expect to hit full fitness for another month after two long lay-offs.