Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland, is facing fresh fitness concerns ahead of crucial fixtures against Arsenal and Real Madrid. The 23-year-old Norwegian international was replaced by Julian Alvarez in the 87th minute during a match against Newcastle United after he was seen holding his shoulder.
Haaland's campaign this season has been marred by injuries. He missed 12 matches between December and January due to a foot problem, which ruled him out of Premier League and FIFA Club World Cup matches. Despite these setbacks, upon his return from injury in late January against Burnley, he managed to score an impressive 10 goals in just 12 games.
The striker has netted a total of 29 goals in his 34 appearances for Manchester City this season. However, it seems unlikely that he will be able to replicate last season’s record-breaking tally of scoring an astounding 52 goals in just 53 appearances.
Potential Premier League title decider clash awaits after break
Haaland is set to feature in two upcoming international friendlies before returning to the Etihad Stadium with the aim of helping Pep Guardiola’s side retain their historic treble from last season.
Manchester City remains competitive across all three competitions they won last year - Champions League quarter-final tie with Real Madrid and Emirates FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium next month are on their schedule. Additionally, they are trailing just one point behind both Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
However, there could be potential fitness doubts surrounding Haaland ahead of their clash with Arsenal on March 31st at Etihad Stadium as hinted by manager Guardiola following Saturday’s win over Newcastle United.
Kevin de Bruyne, and Jack Grealish are also in big scrutiny
Apart from Haaland's situation, there are other fitness concerns within the squad that Guardiola needs to address. Kevin De Bruyne was forced to withdraw from Belgium international duty due to a groin injury, and Jack Grealish was left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad due to ongoing fitness issues.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, said:
“We need Kevin (De Bruyne), Jack (Grealish) and Erling (Haaland) to come back in the best possible conditions,”
Grealish, despite being named in the Manchester City matchday squad on Saturday, has seen his campaign plagued by a series of muscular problems. The team is hopeful that De Bruyne will recover post the international break. Adding to these concerns is the absence of goalkeeper Ederson due to injury.
While Manchester City's performance remains strong across multiple competitions, they face significant challenges with key players' fitness issues. How they manage these concerns could play a crucial role in their success for the remainder of this season.
