Erling Haaland could return to Manchester City’s attack to visit Fulham after Pep Guardiola said the 22-goal striker’s foot injury is “much better” after missing two games.
- Manchester City host Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon
- Star striker Erling Haaland has missed two games with the flu and a foot injury.
- City boss Pep Guardiola said the Norwegians are “much better” and qualified
- Julián Álvarez has stepped in to lead City’s attack in Haaland’s absence
Erling Haaland could return for the weekend’s Manchester City-Fulham clash after Pep Guardiola said the striker’s foot injury was “much better”.
Guardiola wanted to see how the Norwegian, who has already scored 22 goals this season, behaves in training on Friday before signing him for Saturday’s match at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland has missed City’s last two games after being substituted at half-time in a Champions League goalless draw with Borussia Dortmund on October 25.
Erling Haaland has missed Manchester City’s last two games with a foot injury but could return
The striker was substituted at half-time in City’s Champions League match in Dortmund
The 22-year-old has been battling flu and foot problems, which forced him to feature in City’s 1-0 win over Leicester City and 3-1 victory over Sevilla.
Guardiola said: “He is much better. we will decide today [if he can play against Fulham].
“It’s a good step, he’s starting training and we have practice this afternoon and we’ll see.”
When asked what factors are taken into account, Guardiola added: “Himself, his opinion, the doctor’s opinion. We’ll see after training if it’s 90 minutes or less.
Pep Guardiola said that Haaland’s injury is “much better” and that he would be judged in training
Fulham will no doubt be hoping that Haaland, who has scored 17 Premier League goals and five in the Champions League so far, remains sidelined.
Julián Álvarez represented Haaland and started three games in one week, but Guardiola dismissed any concerns about fatigue.
“He’s young, he’s so young, you can play every day at that age,” he said.
While England duo Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips remain sidelined, City have been given a boost as Manuel Akanji is fit again.
City will battle with the physical presence of Aleksandar Mitrovic on Saturday
Guardiola was asked if Haaland would be used in training to simulate the physical challenge Aleksandar Mitrovic’s City defenders will face against Fulham.
He said: “We don’t have time, recovery yesterday, we are tempted. Some players who didn’t play will play tomorrow.
“The players know [about Mitrovic]We have played them in the past. Long balls to Mitrovic, there is a great guarantee that we will lose the ball. Get ready for the second.
“Dangerous player, how many goals did you score last season? He scores goals, of course, a competitor. He pushes defenders to the limit and he is clinical.
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Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
