He’s had something of a glow-up, as the kids would say. Longer bouffant hair. He looks to be smiling more, owing to extended time with his family. Clearly he has used the recuperation from serious hamstring surgery – which took around five months – wisely.

The other week, Pep Guardiola ducked the idea that actually, maybe his talisman had needed a break. Typically, the manager then said the other day that yes, perhaps some time away did him good.

Phil Foden grabbed the first of his two goals on the afternoon in the 33rd minute to get the defending champions on their way

Julian Alvarez doubled the home side’s advantage before the break at the Etihad on Sunday

We’ll see whether that is true when the serious business starts next month, not during a breezy 33-minute cameo on what proved a routine afternoon, in which he marvellously assisted Jeremy Doku for City’s fifth against Huddersfield Town. His 30th assist since the beginning last season, six more than anyone else in Europe’s big leagues. He’s not played since August.

Doku had also been missing for weeks with hamstring problems, so to have both back and a relaxed Erling Haaland laughing with the kit men behind the bench only offers positivity for Guardiola. ‘I am pretty sure Kevin felt how the people here are in love with him,’ Guardiola said. ‘We are incredibly happy.

‘He has a special, special ability to do something that is not easy to find. With all the runners we have now… to have a guy who can find these passes, Kevin is exceptional, he is unique. Look at the quality of the assist for Jeremy’s goal.’

City have really needed De Bruyne in spells this season, when failing to up the ante in drifting matches, but Phil Foden has stepped up recently. A brace for Foden here, with four goals and two assists since his rebuke by Guardiola after last month’s draw against Crystal Palace.

There was even the comfort of offering 18-year-old Jacob Wright a debut, with other youngster Oscar Bobb also bright once more in a game against physical opposition.

Alex Matos had only signed for Huddersfield from Chelsea a few days ago, on loan until the end of the season after briefly making his Premier League debut in October. The 19-year-old, who has never spent any time away from Stamford Bridge before, wasted no time making a mark.

Jeremy Doku returned from an injury lay off an immediately make a impact with a goal in the 74th minute

The afternoon will be most celebrated for the return of Kevin de Bruyne, who made his first appearance since August

Huddersfield started the game well and were disciplined in defence but they were unable to live with the City pressure as the game went on

In a first half so compact that the middle third looked ready to burst, Matos flew into challenges – booked for an ugly lunge on Manuel Akanji that ended the defender’s afternoon. Matos had already caught Rico Lewis in the head earlier in that same move. Eight yellow cards in 12 development games this season for Matos, so perhaps this introduction was no great surprise.

Although on the wrong side of what’s deemed fair aggression, Matos summed up the Championship strugglers right until they went behind. City couldn’t find a way, not weaving through congestion deftly enough to create clear-cut chances in front of an expectant near full house. Sorba Thomas threatened danger on the break, only for his grasp of the offside rule to fail him, with manager Darren Moore enthused at their efforts given his squad is just the 12 players light.

‘There is no disgrace,’ Moore said. ‘We came here to nullify the areas they excel in. You’ve got to start positively and disrupt their passing rhythm. The game can run away from you.’

It did. City struck just after the half-hour. Along with Ruben Dias, Foden had appeared agitated by the lack of urgency in possession and took matters into his own hands. In a spell of form that is making a case for him to start with De Bruyne centrally, Foden has become the man to take on responsibility for winning games and he opened this up.

Pep Guardiola warned that his side should not be underestimated and Sunday’s result sent a clear message to their challengers