Pep Guardiola has stated that Manchester City attacker Erling Haaland would be out until the end of January due to an injury.
Haaland has missed City’s final eight games due to a foot injury sustained in early December, thereby ending their chances of regaining the Premier League championship.
Guardiola had planned to welcome the 23-year-old back early in the new year, but the situation is proving more difficult than envisaged.
In a worrying development for City, Haaland is yet to resume full training.
Guardiola thinks the Norwegian star can accelerate his recovery when City travels to Abu Dhabi for a warm-weather training camp after Saturday’s Premier League game against Newcastle.
“Yes, he has some troubling problems with his feet.” “It’s fine, but the doctors decided to take a week off and possibly resume in Abu Dhabi,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
“Hopefully, he’ll be ready by the end of this month.” It was a little more than we had anticipated at first.
“That’s the bone.” It takes time. With any ailment, you may do anything you want, but time is of the essence.”
Haaland scored 52 goals in his first season with City, winning the treble, and has 19 this season.
Guardiola says that City’s firepower has been badly missed as they trail Liverpool by five points.
“We miss Erling a lot,” stated the Spaniard. “We need him. Hopefully, he’ll be able to return and play the remaining four or five months without incident.
“You miss a lot of games when you’re injured at the end of November.” It’s the most difficult time.”
In another setback for City, Swiss defender Manuel Akanji is set to miss time.
Akanji was pulled off early in City’s FA Cup third round win over Huddersfield last weekend, joining fellow centre-back John Stones on the injury list.
“He’ll be out for a few weeks.” It’s not a major deal, but just till the end of the month,” Guardiola said.
“We’re fortunate that we don’t have any games in the next ten days after Newcastle.” We’ll see how they feel in Abu Dhabi’s pleasant weather.”