Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed star striker Erling Haaland is set to miss their game with Crystal Palace on Saturday due to an ongoing foot injury.
Haaland was a surprise exclusion 2-1 win over Luton Town and missed out again during City’s midweek triumph over Red Star Belgrade which saw the reigning European champions finish top of their group.
Haaland has been as prolific as ever this season- sitting atop the Premier League goalscoring charts with fourteen goals. Pep has said that the Norwegian is a major doubt for the visit of Crystal Palace on Saturday and said that the “moment he does not feel any pain, he will play.”
However, the City boss did confirm that Haaland will travel with the squad to Saudi Arabia, with City set to play in the semi-final of the Club World Cup next Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola said when asked if he is worried about the injury to Erling Haaland: “No. It’s not fractured, just stress.
“Sometimes players recover quickly, longer. “Day by day, week by week, we have to see how he feels. The moment he doesn’t have pain he will play.”
“Arrive today, we see the doctors and we will see. “He’s had treatment [away.] “Hopefully Erling can travel to Saudi. Tomorrow, after the game we see if he plays the first game or second at the Club World Cup.”
“I don’t think he will be fit [for Crystal Palace], but maybe surprisingly they’ll tell me something new.”