Coach Pep Guardiola “only hopes” Erling Haaland can return to play in January, saying that the Norwegian super striker is still not healthy enough to practice with his teammates after recent bone damage in his leg.
Haaland has now missed Man.City’s last six matches in all competitions after sitting out Wednesday’s 3-1 Premier League win over Everton. The 23-year-old super striker once gave fans hope after the club’s social network account photographed him kicking a ball on Man.City’s training ground in Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the FIFA Club World Cup last week, but Now coach Guardiola himself admits that he is not close to returning to the first team.
From an optimistic point of view, Haaland can even return to the field now after Kevin De Bruyne – who has been out of action since August due to hamstring surgery. Coach Guardiola said: “Haaland is still training alone. Kevin is practicing with the whole team, but Erling is not yet. The problem is when the pain will go away. We hope he will return in January, but the bone damage is very painful. He’s not like someone like Phil Foden with thinner skin, Erling is very big. He only returned and played according to the doctors’ decision. The doctors come every morning and say this player is ready and this player is not.”
Man.City captain De Bruyne has not played since re-injuring his serious hamstring in the opening match of the season against Burnley, but coach Guardiola believes that the Belgian midfielder is about to return to play, possibly Maybe in the FA Cup third round match at home against Huddersfield Town on January 6. “Yes, Kevin was very close. Today he is tired. We must be careful. He is training with us and the signs are very positive. He will be back soon. I’d love to see him play in the next game or the Huddersfield game, but it’s important to keep his form for a long time.”