“You don’t feel as part of the group anymore” – £20m Man City star Ilkay Gundogan reacts to long spell on sidelines 

Manchester City star playmaker Ilkay Gundogan has admitted that he may not return as the same player prior to his knee injury.

The 26-year-old played his first game in over ten months last weekend against Watford FC. Gundogan suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in December, several months after joining city for £20 million from Dortmund.

Pep Guardiola brought Gundogan on in place of Kevin De Bruyne in the 66th minute.

Gundogan has undergone a lengthy rehabilitation spell and only returned to training over the summer.

The Germany international spoke about his time while recovering and about his Man City future.

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‘It was a long wait – and tough as well. That is why it feels so special to return,” Gundogan told the clubs official website.

“I was sad just to watch in front of the TV or in the stands. I am used to playing every three or four days. If an injury takes it away then it is always disappointing and it feels weird. 

“To be honest, you don’t feel as part of the group anymore. You are not travelling with the team anymore. You do everything on your own or with the physio. So of course, that is the worst feeling you can have as a football player. So, that is also the reason it was that hard over the months.

“The worst time was of course the day of the injury or when I knew what exactly happened. When I knew there would be six, seven, eight, nine months out. That was the worst feeling. 

“The day after the surgery was not so good either. But then, at one point, you start to do it again. You start to do your rehabilitation. You recover. You have ups and downs, days you feel better, days you feel very bad. I think that is normal. It is not just me. 

“I did not have doubts whether I would play anymore. The ACL is a common injury so you have surgery, the doctors know what they are doing. But of course it is long and it is my second knee injury.

“There are doubts if I will be again at the level I had before so, of course that is the case. As I said because of these ups and downs, more of the downs, it is sometimes frustrating. The doubts are at this point even bigger. But I had no other choice. I am a football player. This is what I do. This is what I have done all my life. This is my job. For me, there was no other choice than to try again.

“If I said I am the same player as I was a year ago, I would be lying. I mean, through the injury, you don’t feel the same. You don’t feel as though you are the most powerful guy in the world – not that I ever did. I had two injuries on my knee and I know what to do to prepare myself for the games and to warm my knee up and be generally fit. 

“I will do everything to be as fit as possible. That could be it for all the injuries! I think I am done now! I am ready to continue playing, to keep fit. To enjoy playing.”

Manchester City recorded a 6-0 win over Watford FC last weekend. The Citizens take on West Brom in the League Cup tomorrow before hosting an out-of-form Crystal Palace at the Etihad this weekend.

Gundogan provided two assists and scored five goals in 16 appearances for City last season.