Pep Guardiola confirmed that Erling Haaland will be fit for Manchester City’s game against Burnley on Wednesday.
Haaland has not played for City since the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa back in early December. The Norwegian still has 19 goals in all competitions this season despite missing City’s unbeaten recent run of 10 games, whilst still leading the Premier League goal-scoring charts too, tied with Mohamed Salah with on 14.
A stress reaction in Haaland’s foot has kept him waiting in the wings for almost 2 months and his return is a timely one for Pep Guardiola’s side as they venture into a vital period of fixtures. Guardiola said Haaland was eager to get going upon his return to training today and he will be available for selection against Burnley.
“He needed time but now he feels better and he has trained four, five, six times and he feels good”, Guardiola said. Two months out so he needs time for rhythm and everything. He has been bored. These guys want to play but he refreshed his mind. In the summer he came back a little bit tired.
“For the first time in his life last season, he played this many games and the tension in the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League. He was a little bit tired mentally.
“It helps to be fresh and think ‘wow, I want to play!’. For the last part of the season maybe he is going to help us. I didn’t think much about the team selection but I have to see something because Vinnie makes different shapes and we have to reflect a little bit more.”
