Pep Guardiola is ready to start Kevin De Bruyne immediately after the international break as he aims to get the Belgian in peak condition for Manchester City’s clash with Tottenham later this month.

De Bruyne has made a remarkable recovery from knee ligament damage – and was in contention to make his comeback against Liverpool on Sunday.

But Guardiola has pencilled him in for the October 20 game against Burnley after two more weeks of training at City’s Etihad campus.

De Bruyne was initially ruled out for three months after suffering the injury in the first week of the season.

He has not played since the 2-0 win against Arsenal in City’s opening game. But such has been the speed of his recovery that Guardiola suggested he could be in contention for the goalless draw against Liverpool at Anfield.

That was always considered a long shot after just days of full training back with the first team squad.

The 27-year-old is using the international break to get back up to match fitness and make himself available to start against Burnley at the Etihad.

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City face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League three days later, and then the trip to Tottenham on Monday October 29, when De Bruyne is expected to be fully up to speed.

While Guardiola was determined not to rush his star player’s recovery, Belgium manager Roberto Martinez predicted he would be ahead of schedule.

"I think we'll see him on the pitch a lot earlier than other players would take with that injury,” said Martinez last month. “We think he could be even fresher after his period away.

“Kevin wants to be on the football pitch as quick as he can and physically he's got that natural gift of being able to heal quicker than other players."