Ilkay Gundogan has revealed he wants to be in the City first-team in time for the Manchester derby on September 10th, potentially even making his debut in the game at Old Trafford. The German missed Euro 2016 with a dislocated knee, but has been working hard in training to try and get back fit after completing a move from Borussia Dortmund in June.
There have been some concerns about Gundogan’s fitness record, following a series of small niggling injuries and the dislocated knee last season. He also missed an entire season in 2013-14 due to a back injury, raising more concerns. However, Pep Guardiola rejected the chance to move for several alternatives, including N’Golo Kante, in order to pursue the Germany midfielder and is confident the worst of his injury issues are behind him after he played 48 Bundesliga games in the last two seasons.
Gundogan was spotted on the training pitch earlier in the week, after taking the next step on his path to recovery, although he was working separately from the rest of the squad, with fitness experts.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Gundogan said: “I’m really looking forward to training normally with the guys and I can’t wait to get going properly -but I just have to be patient for a little while longer.”
“I’m working hard on my rehab everything is going well so I hope it will be end of August or the beginning of September – of course, it all depends on how things develop over the next few days and weeks.
“Maybe just after the World Cup qualifiers and perhaps the Manchester derby – that would be very nice.”
The Blues were due to take part in a derby in China, during the International Champions Cup, but the game was called off due to extremely poor weather causing too much damage to the pitch for the match to be safely completed. This means that Gundogan’s potential debut will also be the first time Pep Guardiola has faced off against Jose Mourinho, the new United boss, since the Catalan left Barcelona in 2012. The game is likely to be an early indication of the potential for the two sides this season.
