Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been pictured in training ahead of the games against Young Boys and Chelsea.
The Norwegian international was taken off at half-time during the 6-1 win over Bournemouth at the weekend with an ankle injury. However, it appears that he will be back available for selection very soon.
While City supporters on X are hoping that Haaland is not risked for the Young Boys fixture, they are keenly anticipating his return to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday:
GET INNNNNN
— LewisThompson15 (@Thompson15Lewis) November 6, 2023
Scary hours for Chelsea
— ABDI (@siuuxx24) November 6, 2023
Good news
— Lord Wakanda ♓︎ (@RBCityzen) November 6, 2023
Get innnn!🍾
— Elias ✩ (@eliasibrahim_) November 6, 2023
I GOT MY JOY BACK
— may (@ourimys) November 6, 2023
Sweet … but he should rest and wait for Chelsea on Saturday
Alvarez will do the work against Young Boys— Yaabi Ony3👽 (@Ajinaab_Imma) November 6, 2023
Chelsea be afraid
— SAINt🎩 (@BigMusa18) November 6, 2023
Don’t risk him, we’ll win without him & rest him for Sunday.
— Rainbow🌈 (@RussellMcfc) November 7, 2023
Guardiola has confirmed that Haaland is feeling “better”
At his pre-match press conference yesterday, manager Pep Guardiola was very optimistic that Haaland would make a swift return to action. When asked about the forward’s fitness, he said:
“We train this afternoon so I don’t know. Yesterday he told me he feels much better than on the day of the game but I don’t know [if he will train].”
“I will listen to the doctors. If he says he is ready and does not have pain I will consider him to play. Because Tuesday to Sunday there’s a lot [of time to recover], it is not Wednesday. Right now if Erling can’t play, Julian [Alvarez] will play there.”
City don’t have to gamble on Haaland’s fitness
With qualification for the Champions League knockout stage all but secure, Guardiola can afford to rest the 22-year-old on Tuesday night.
City may only need a draw against Young Boys to seal their passage to the last 16, and they can do that without Haaland.