Kevin De Bruyne just needed five minutes to demonstrate why his comeback from injury may be so important for Manchester City in the second half of the Premier League season. De Bruyne came off the bench five months after hamstring surgery to score the equalizer and set up an injury-time winner for City in a 3-2 triumph over Newcastle.
De Bruyne came on in the 69th minute with City losing 2-1 at St. James' Park. He grabbed the ball in the 74th minute and surged forward toward the box before sidefooting a precise finish well inside the near post, out of reach of goalie Martin Dubravka. In stoppage time, he sent a superb cross into the box for replacement Oscar Bobb to score his first Premier League goal and complete the comeback. Guardiola's squad has moved ahead of Aston Villa to second position, although they are still two points behind leader Liverpool.