Manchester City will welcome Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend but Pep Guardiola might have to set up his team without Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.
Erling Haaland picked up an abductor injury during Man City’s last league win and as a result, he had to withdraw from international duty. Initially, everyone thought the striker will be fit in the two-week break but now the reports are suggesting that he will be touch and go.
His father has confirmed that the 22-year-old is travelling to Barcelona to get further tests done and know the extent of the injury.
“Manchester City has a partnership with a hospital in Barcelona so he has been there for further checks and treatment,” Alfie Haaland told Norway’s TV2(h/t Liverpool Echo).
“Now he has been here [Marbella] for a couple of days with the physio from the club. Firstly, I’m not a doctor and secondly, I think it’s ‘touch and go’, yes. You can’t just go two weeks without training and then jump right into a fight. There must be a progression there.
“They can gamble on it, but if he doesn’t get proper training with the team, then he won’t play. It is about how he responds to treatment in the next few days. He needs a lot of care and ‘knuckling’. There are many sprints and there is a lot to move.”
Whether he will be available or not will only be known once Pep Guardiola faces the media later this week but if Erling Haaland is ruled out for a few weeks then it will be a major blow for Man City.
If Haaland’s injury was not enough, Phil Foden has undergone surgery for appendicitis so he will also miss the Liverpool game this weekend.
Jack Grealish should be able to fill Foden’s void on the left flank but if Erling Haaland is not ready then it will be a big advantage for Liverpool.
Van Dijk and Joel Matip have been faltering in defence so this was the perfect opportunity for Haaland to add a few goals to his tally.
Thankfully, the 22-year-old has a very small injury record as the most number of games he’s missed through injury is six when he was out for 42 days(playing for Dortmund). He’s a fitness freak who takes care of himself really well and this might help him make an early recovery from his groin trouble.
