Manchester City fans can breathe a sigh of relief — star striker Erling Haaland is officially back. Manager Pep Guardiola confirmed the Norwegian forward is “ready and fit” to make his long-awaited return this weekend, following an ankle injury that kept him out since March.
Haaland, 24, suffered the setback during City’s FA Cup clash with Bournemouth and has been on the sidelines ever since. Though he was an unused substitute during the narrow 1-0 victory over Wolves last weekend, Guardiola says the prolific striker is now available ahead of their Premier League match against Southampton on Saturday.
“He is ready, he is fit,” Guardiola told reporters. “Will he start? We’ll see tomorrow.”
Manchester City currently sit third in the Premier League, holding a crucial three-point lead over sixth-placed Nottingham Forest. With only a few games left, every point counts as teams scramble for a top-five finish — the threshold for Champions League qualification this season.
City’s remaining schedule includes league fixtures against Bournemouth and Fulham, as well as a high-stakes FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on 17 May at Wembley.
Haaland: “I Haven’t Been Good Enough”
In a candid interview with ESPN, Haaland reflected on City’s underwhelming title defense, admitting a lack of “hunger” in the squad after four consecutive league triumphs.
“We haven’t had fully the hunger inside us,” Haaland said. “I haven’t been good enough. I haven’t helped the team enough. In the end, we haven’t been good enough.”
Guardiola, responding to those remarks, urged his squad to reflect inwardly.
“If it’s a feeling for Erling, the players should talk to each other and ask themselves why,” the City boss responded.
A Numbers Game
Despite missing a chunk of the season, Haaland remains City’s top scorer, netting 21 goals in 28 league appearances. He is also the only player in the squad to hit double digits in the Premier League this term.
In all competitions this season, Haaland has 30 goals in 40 games, alongside four assists. However, he currently trails Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah by seven goals in the race for the Golden Boot, with just three league games remaining.
Fantasy Premier League managers now face a big question: Should you captain Haaland this week? With his return imminent, and City’s season on the line, it might just be the perfect time to trust the goal machine again.
