Having suffered the agony of a torn hamstring in the Champions League final back in June, this season has been a tough one to watch after an aborted comeback in August forced him to spend another five months on the sidelines.
He hasn't enjoyed watching his team-mates one bit however good their performances have been, but after marking his comeback with an assist in the 5-0 win over Huddersfield the City talisman can look back on a very different season that may have been exactly what he needed.
"I enjoyed it in a way," he said. "At the beginning it was a big blow but I knew I was going to be out for four or five months so after the first reaction I thought to myself I needed to work hard when I'm working and then I could enjoy the things that I've not been able to do with my family and friends and took it that way.
"Maybe it was good to refresh a little bit. No new hobbies but it was nice to bring my son and daughter to their practices and see their games, what they do. I could go on holiday, which is never possible normally during the year.
"When you have three kids between three and seven, I'm basically a taxi driver. I enjoyed it. I think they enjoyed that Daddy could watch the games and now it will harder for the missus and everywork one to around the programme.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 09, 2024 من Manchester Evening News.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 09, 2024 من Manchester Evening News.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Liverpool skipper slams disrespect shown to United
LIVERPOOL captain Virgil van Dijk said he felt United had been disrespected in the build-up to Sunday's 2-2 draw at Anfield - and pointed to a question asked at Arne Slot's pre-match press conference as evidence.
Real show of grit in snow, slush and ice
WE have become accustomed to seeing slumped shoulders, heads bowed and no communication when United concede. At Anfield, it was different.
Ammies stopper ready for Etihad FA Cup audition
WHEN Salford City line up against City on Saturday evening in the FA Cup third round, all eyes will be on Ammies goalkeeper Matty Young to see if he can keep the Premier League champions at bay.
Why fan the flames with loyal support?
OH, Kevin de Bruyne. It's what the City vice-captain hears at the Etihad multiple times during a match as fans serenade one of the best players they have ever seen.
Sav's support act is feeding Haaland goals
PEP Guardiola smiled recently when it was put to him that City could play a false nine with Erling Haaland.
Golden first for Moore
DEMI Moore gave an impassioned speech as she won her first acting award at the Golden Globes in a ceremony which also saw films The Brutalist and Emilia Perez triumph.
It could all end in tiers as Test plans make return
PROPOSALS to split Test cricket into a two-tier system, with England, Australia and India at the centre, are reportedly back on the agenda.
Jewellery chains owner cuts losses despite revenue drop
THE firm behind high street jewellers H Samuel and Ernest Jones has managed to significantly reduce its losses, despite witnessing a nearly £40m drop in sales during its most recent financial year.
Minister probed over properties
TREASURY minister Tulip Siddiq has referred herself to the Prime Minister's ethics tsar after controversies over properties linked to her family and her aunt's political movement in Bangladesh.
Little cheer for retail businesses
THE crucial \"golden quarter\" failed to give retailers the send-off to 2024 they were hoping for, after a year marked by weak consumer confidence, newly published figures show.