Check out all the games Haaland could miss for Manchester City due to injury including Liverpool
Manchester City are set to be without Erling Haaland until next month Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland is currently sidelined through injury
Manchester City could be without Erling Haaland for their next three matches as the Norway international continues to be sidelined with a foot injury.
The 23-year-old has not played for City since their 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on December 6, a period in the treatment room which has seen the forward miss eight games across all competitions – including last month’s Club World Cup triumph.
Haaland, though, did return to training last week prior to City’s FA Cup third-round tie with Championship outfit Huddersfield Town, fuelling optimism that the forward could be, at least, named on the bench for Saturday’s visit to Newcastle United.
On Friday, however, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed Haaland was still nursing the foot issue he first suffered last month and is likely to make a return to team training during City’s warm-weather training camp in the Middle East next week.
“[It’s] a little bit of disturbing problems in his feet. It’s fine,” said Guardiola, providing an additional update on Haaland. “The doctors decided to stop for one week and maybe restart in Abu Dhabi.
“Hopefully at the end of this month he’ll be ready. It was a little bit more than we expected in the beginning. It’s a bone, it needs time. Every injury you can do whatever you want but it’s a question of time.
“Now we have two games but when you are injured at end of November, you miss a lot of games. And we missed him. We need him. Hopefully he can come back and play the last four or five months without a problem.”
What games could Haaland miss for Manchester City?
Saturday night will see Haaland miss his ninth game in a row for Man City as he sits out of the clash with Newcastle United at St James’ Park, his side’s last fixture until their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur on January 26.
Judging by Guardiola’s comments, that tie in North London could still be too soon for the Norway international to make his return to action. So too could the visit of Burnley to the Etihad on January 31. That means Haaland could make his return against Brentford on February 5.
Whatever happens, those at Anfield will no doubt be keeping a close eye on Haaland’s return to fitness, with the striker having scored 14 goals in 15 Premier League games prior to his latest injury setback. As it stands, Liverpool are five points clear of Guardiola’s men in the table and will hope in the absence of Haaland that gap remains after the full-time whistle is blown at St James’ Park on Saturday night.
Pep Guardiola was speaking to preview Man City’s upcoming Premier League game with Newcastle United
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has spoken of his relief that his Manchester City side have not been cut adrift in the Premier League title race.
Guardiola has revealed he feared his City side would be cut adrift this season as they battled a Treble hangover. But speaking on Friday, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss spoke of his relief that his side is showing no sign of fatigue even after last season’s long campaign.
The City manager also admitted that he has been left impressed by Liverpool, whom he described as ‘unbelievable’. Jurgen Klopp’s side currently sits at the top of the table and has one foot in the Carabao Cup final after beating Fulham 2-1 in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday night.
“I was not scared, but I didn’t know what was going to happen after winning the Treble with no rest to get our gear off and a hangover from the Treble,” Guardiola said.
“Immediately [there was] Japan, Community Shield; we didn’t have any time mentally to recover; not even myself – I was tired when I started.
“The competition helped us to have a spark, to reignite again and that’s why we won two titles already, have qualified in the Champions League and are there.
“I was a little afraid to be far far away because I know how Liverpool is back playing unbelievable with their best moments in many years.
“I know it will be difficult. Even Arsenal dropped points, but I saw how they played against West Ham and against Liverpool in the FA Cup – how good they play, the chances they create.
“It’s similar to when we didn’t get results against Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Tottenham, but I have the feeling and Aston Villa are so consistent and Tottenham as well.”
Guardiola also revealed that Erling Haaland will not be back in time for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United – but explained that Kevin De Bruyne could be available to start at St. James’ Park.
“Jack [Grealish] has been sick and hopefully today he is back. Erling is out and John [Stones] is out. I think that’s everything,” the City boss said.
Asked about De Bruyne, Guardiola said: “What I saw yesterday he looks really good and dynamic.
“The minutes he played were really good, better than the training session before the Huddersfield game where he was a little bit now what he is.
“It’s normal when you come from five months of injury to have highs and lows in training. He is getting better. We have a game, then we will do four or five training sessions in Abu Dhabi and that will help us to be better for the next months.”