Pep Guardiola has said he “doesn’t know” when Kevin De Bruyne will return from injury, with Kyle Walker also a doubt.

The Belgian midfielder has not played for the Premier League champions since coming off against Inter Milan on September 18 with an unspecified issue, and his manager has previously said he will not rush him back.

"I don't know,” Guardiola said of his playmaker.

“Of course, I prefer to have all the squad with this amount of games. But it is what it is. Hopefully he comes back soon. I don't know yet, I would like to tell you, but I don't know..."

Speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Southampton on Saturday, the City boss also confirmed Walker, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku will be unavailable for selection.

City are already without Rodri for the rest of the season, while Oscar Bobb is still some way off a return from a fractured leg.

In spite of their issues, they will go top of the Premier League table with a win against the bottom-placed Saints at the Etihad Stadium, with current leaders Liverpool not in action until Sunday when they face Arsenal.