The fitness of Erling Haaland could be crucial to the outcome of the 2024/25 campaign for Man City.
By his high standards, the Norwegian striker has not been having his best season since he arrived at the Etihad Stadium in 2022, but the 24-year-old still has 30 goals and four assists to his name across 40 appearances and will be hopeful of adding more over the coming weeks.
Haaland has been out of action since the end of March after picking up an ankle injury in Man City’s FA Cup win over Bournemouth, which has funnily enough coincided with the Manchester club’s best form of the season as Pep Guardiola’s men are undefeated in eight games.
Nevertheless, City fans are keen to have their goalscorer back and Guardiola has now provided an update on the Norway international’s fitness.
Pep Guardiola provides Erling Haaland fitness update
Haaland has been providing his own fitness updates in recent days as the 24-year-old has made a return to full training ahead of a crucial period in the season.
The striker is not expected to feature against Wolves on Friday night, however, Guardiola has told the press whether the superstar will be fit for when Man City take on Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on 17 May.
“I hope so. I think he will be able to play before the World Cup,” Guardiola said about Haaland’s fitness. “I’m pretty sure all will want to play it [the FA Cup Final]. When you reach the final, everyone wants to be involved. It depends how they feel, how they recover.
“Now is a period when you have to be certain; it’s not already qualified, don’t play for anything, after you can do things. But now it’s a final in every single game. We’ve been making an incredible effort in the last 11 games, unbeaten since Nottingham Forest away, just one draw against United away.
“We cannot be distracted. Wolves, Wolves, and Wolves. The rest, we have time to think and day by day, see in training, physios, doctors, what they are going to say we’re going to try to make the right decisions.”
Guardiola will have to take a risk with Haaland if he is to feature in the FA Cup final as the striker cannot arrive at Wembley with no minutes under his belt.
The Man City boss would also provide a more detailed update on when Haaland will return, although everything is in the hands of the doctors and physios, the Spanish coach admitted.
When will Erling Haaland return for Man City
Haaland is expected back in action for Man City very soon with the Manchester club’s trip away to Southampton on May 10 being the most likely return date for the 24-year-old.
When asked about the fitness of the Norwegian during Thursday’s press conference, Guardiola stated that the City star’s injury is a tricky one and that he hopes to have him back very soon.
“Soon. I think he’s getting better,” the Man City boss stated. “Injured for four to six weeks, now he’s between four and five. The injury is a tricky, tricky injury. But he’s making partial training, almost full, getting better. Hopefully, in the next games he can be there.”
Having Haaland back for the FA Cup final would be a huge boost for Man City and a further one could be handed to Guardiola ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup after Rodri returned to training this week in Manchester.
