Manchester City is on the cusp of winning their fourth Premier League title in a row. But they seem to have some problems at the moment. Their top scorer for the last two years, Erling Haaland has been facing an injury crisis this season and he will reportedly miss the game against Brighton tomorrow. With City third on the league table, will the star show up for the remaining games? When is he expected to be back on the pitch?
Meanwhile, the Sky Blues are 4 points behind Arsenal with two games in hand. And the return of their talisman is a must for Pep Guardiola’s camp. The Norwegian was substituted after the second half against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. But after seeming to be a minor issue, the situation seems a bit more complex.
Initially citing it as a minor muscle injury, Haaland did not feature against Chelsea the following game. Now, after the news of his absence from tomorrow’s game, reports suggest that the player’s potential return date is the 28th of April 2024 against Nottingham Forest. However, this status is still unclear as the assessment of the player is still going on and the chances of him being back on the reported date is 25%.
Meanwhile, the champions would need to get through Brighton’s away game with a win, until Haaland’s tentative return against Forest. Last time City were held to a 1-1 draw in the dying stages of the tournament at the Falmer Stadium. But the treble-winners were dominating the league last season, unlike the current one where each game has implications.
On the other hand, Pep Guardiola made it clear that he wants to mitigate any risks of injuries and fatigue by overburdening his players. The former FC Barcelona manager had stated earlier that players who do not want to play will be rested. His midfielder Rodri was granted a game break when he requested, and it will be no different for the other athletes until they are 100 percent fit.
Manchester City handed relief after Erling Haaland’s injury
On a positive note for Pep Guardiola, his squad boasts an immaculate bench strength. Argentine World Cup winner Julian Alvarez is a proven replacement for the Erling Haaland scoring 8 league goals and providing 9 assists this season. But more importantly, the coach declared their most informed player, Phil Foden fit to play against Brighton on Thursday.
It was an anxious moment for the supporters when reports revealed that Haaland and Foden had missed the training session yesterday. Nevertheless, as it turns out with 14 goals this season, the English international’s addition will give the English giants’ confidence a world of good. But Can City win their game without Haaland? Let us know in the comments.