Kevin De Bruyne injured, will miss EFL Cup Manchester Derby

Kristof Terreur, a reliable Belgian reporter, has stated that Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne will watch the coming EFL Cup match against Manchester United from the stands due to a calf injury.

Pep Guardiola also confirmed De Bruyne's injury, and announced that full-backs Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna will also not be fit enough to face United at Old Trafford.

Hearing that the Belgian playmaker is injured is always heartbreaking news, however, it seems as if he would not have played anyways. The fans should expect to see a rotated lineup. Players such as De Bruyne, David Silva, and Sergio Agüero are all in dire need of a rest, and those who have recently displayed a drop in form (John Stones for example) will find themselves on the sidelines as well.

The Blue side of Manchester will likely field youngsters in place of the big names. We will probably see Aleix García, Iheanacho, and more youth products given a start. The highly anticipated clash will be a test for the Academy, and they must be strong both physically and mentally if City are to progress in the EFL Cup with a win against their local rivals.

Sky Blue fans should not worry too much over De Bruyne's absence. It's only a knock, and he will be restored to the lineup shortly, most likely on Sunday's Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion or the Champions League game against Barcelona.