Guardiola was thrilled with the colossal cameo impact of KDB as he helped us to a valuable three points against the Magpies on Tyneside, firing home a leveller on 74 minutes and setting up Oscar Bobb for the winner in injury time.
And the manager believes the Belgian can have a big influence on the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.
“He’s a special player, he’s a legend who is so beloved for our people,” said the boss.
“He’s fresh in his mind because five months is a long time and in the second half of the season he can help us to be there until the end.
“He needs to have a bit more freedom and space and to be able to move to where his nose or gut is telling him at that moment to create some passes.
“When Kevin has the ball, we need runners like Oscar as he did today, Phil and Erling. His goal was fantastic.
“I had the feeling that he wasn’t ready for 90 minutes because he’s been out - everyone was saying, ‘OK, he can play, he can play’ - we hoped he could come on when we had control of the game like Huddersfield last week for the last 20-25 minutes because how many times last season did he arrive at the by-line and provide the crosses?”
Guardiola spoke of the need to nurse De Bruyne back to full fitness over the last few weeks and months – rather than rush him back.
The boss insisted the classy playmaker needed ‘greater care’ than normal due to the length of time he’s been out as well as his age.
“Last season after 20 mins of the Champions League final and after Burnley and five months out, we wanted him to take the right steps,” the manager continued.
“He isn’t 22 anymore and he is one year older. The older you get, the greater care you have to take care of yourself.
“The target is to play 90 mins, 90 mins, 90 mins in a row. I don’t know when that’s going to happen but that’s the target.”
The manager has been pleased with how his Treble winners have managed their season in the absence of the influential forward, winning the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, flying high in the Premier League and making it through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
But now, he admits he’s thrilled to have the iconic and influential fan favourite available again.
“I’ll be honest, for the way we play, we play quite similar without him - but to win games, we need the type of player like Kevin or Erling.
“We have players who play in the pockets, but the vision and quality in the final third, we need Kevin.
“What can I say, he has been here for many years, and we have been together for eight years. What can I say?”
