KEVIN DE BRUYNE has revealed that nerve damage has left him with no feeling in the left side of his face.
The star, 29, suffered his facial injuries during Manchester City’s Champions League final defeat to Chelsea last month.
The Belgium international fractured his eye socket during a clash with Antonio Rudiger and went straight in for surgery in order to be fit for Euro 2020.
De Bruyne bravely played through the pain barrier for his country yesterday and bagged the winner following his arrival as sub in the 2-1 victory over Denmark.
And afterwards he fired his country in the last-16 with a game to spare, he revealed that it will take him at least six months to fully recover.
De Bruyne said: “I don’t feel anything on the left side, like after a visit to the dentist.
“My nerve is very badly affected, which could take six months. It’s not a comfortable feeling, but the most important thing is that I can play.
“The last two months have been up and down for me with minor injuries. After that fracture in the nose and eye socket, it was a bit of a wait.
“But luckily I came back in the fastest way. There was very good intensity for half an hour, [against Denmark] then I felt it. But I’m glad I was able to play.”
De Bruyne is obviously delighted to have returned to action so quickly, but he admitted he is still not back to full confidence back on the pitch.
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He added: “In the duels I am sometimes afraid to put my head in it, but that’s normal.
“I’m glad I could help the team, but am I ready to play 90 minutes? No idea.
“We have to wait and see how my body reacts and then we’ll see after Finland. We are already qualified, so we can see how my body reacts.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
