Manchester City will be furious after the doctor of Belgium's national team claimed Kevin De Bruyne's hamstring injury is good news.
De Bruyne faces six weeks on the sidelines after limping out of City's 2-0 midweek home win over Aston Villa.
But while the injury is a devastating blow for Pep Guardiola, the medic who works with Roberto Martinez's Belgium squad believes it has boosted their chances of becoming European champions this summer.
Kristof Sas said: “This kind of injury is not bad at all towards the European Championships this summer.
“This way Kevin can get the necessary rest he needs in busy football months.
“Kevin can recuperate and he can have a kind of new pre-season towards the Euros.
“In fact, Kevin being out for six weeks is actually an ideal situation - well, that is from our point of view!
“For the player and his club it is different.”
Sas is head of the Belgiam FA's medical team.
His words will not go down well at the Etihad, with City trailing Manchester United by three points at the top of the Premier League in the knowledge they will go to the summit if they win their game in hand.
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