Manchester City star striker Erling Haaland is absent from training ahead of their Premier League clash against Liverpool this weekend. The Norwegian striker's groin injury is not thought to be serious, as per our sister title Manchester Evening News, but he is yet to return to training.
Haaland felt some discomfort in his groin after City's 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory against Burnley before withdrawing from Norway's squad for their Euro 2024 qualifiers with Spain and Georgia. The Norwegian FA confirmed in a statement that initial tests signified that the lethal finisher would need some time on the sidelines.
Pep Guardiola's side are in desperate need of a win against the Reds, currently sitting eight points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, albeit having played one less game than the north Londoners. The two title challengers are also still to face each other at the Etihad Stadium this season, with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta returning to the ground he previously coached at on April 27.
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City had 17 players head away on international duty following their FA Cup win and all returned without any injury problems, barring Haaland. The 22-year-old's father - Alfie Haaland - offered an update on his son's fitness to TV2 in which he said: "Manchester City has a partnership with a hospital in Barcelona so he has been there for further checks and treatment.
"Now he has been here [Marbella] for a couple of days with the physio from the club. Firstly, I’m not a doctor and secondly, I think it’s 'touch and go' [to face Liverpool], yes.
"You can’t just go two weeks without training and then jump right into a fight. There must be a progression there.
"They can gamble on it, but if he doesn’t get proper training with the team, then he won’t play. It is about how he responds to treatment in the next few days.
"He needs a lot of care and 'knuckling'. There are many sprints and there is a lot to move. It was very surprising. I knew nothing. He called me and said that they had taken some pictures and found something that was not good.
"He would very much like to have played these two international matches. But he must prioritise his health, try to get his body back in place. Based on the assumptions, he is doing well, but he is very sad."
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