De Bruyne rolls back the years to run the show as City stop rot

OH, Kevin de Bruyne. The football gods have not been smiling on City lately, with a relentless list of injuries and seemingly every mistake on the punished by unsympathetic pitch opponents.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

The best players tend to get the luck as well though, and De Bruyne went from a potential zero to certain hero again in the space of a minute against Nottingham Forest.

Back in the team for his first start since September 16, the Belgian produced one of his trademark defence-splitting balls in the first half... past his own defence.

Ruben Dias could not recover and the in-form Chris Wood stormed through on goal, only to lash his effort wide of Stefan Ortega's post.

As Pep Guardiola was still coming to terms with what happened, Jeremy Doku was afforded too much space at the other end and gave it to De Bruyne - free in the penalty area to take a touch and smash home a second goal.

It wouldn't have been a surprise given City's run if the returning hero had ruined another positive start, yet the Belgian carried an air about him all evening that felt invincible.

It is not one he has carried for over two months after a painful and frustrating injury, and not one the team have felt for about six weeks as their fine start to the season has come crashing down around them.