Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola Confirms Prolonged Absence for Erling Haaland Due to Foot Injury
Manager Pep Guardiola has indicated that prolific 23-year-old striker Erling Haaland of Manchester City will remain sidelined until the end of January. Haaland has been grappling with a foot injury since the defeat to Aston Villa on December 6, and despite initial hopes for a swift return during the Club World Cup, his recovery has taken longer than anticipated.
Guardiola shed light on the nature of the injury, stating, “It’s the bone. It needs time. With every injury, you can do whatever you want, but it’s a question of time.” The Norwegian international, boasting 19 goals in 22 club games this season, will miss the upcoming Premier League match against Newcastle and City’s subsequent warm-weather training in Abu Dhabi.
The timeline puts Haaland at risk of missing key fixtures. Including the FA Cup clash with Tottenham on January 26 and the league match against Burnley on January 31. Guardiola expressed optimism, saying, “Hopefully at the end of this month, he’ll be ready. It was a little bit more than we expected in the beginning.”
Despite City’s undefeated streak in the eight games Haaland has missed. Including their Club World Cup triumph, Guardiola emphasized the team’s reliance on the striker, noting, “We need him a lot. Hopefully, he can come back and play the last four or five months without a problem.”
City’s defensive struggles persist as center-back Manuel Akanji is also headed for a similar period on the sidelines after an injury in the 18th minute of the FA Cup win against Huddersfield. Guardiola assured, “He will be some weeks out. It’s not a big problem, but until the end of the month.” Despite these setbacks, City sits five points off Premier League leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.
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