Manchester City fans and the team can breathe a sigh of relief as their star striker, Erling Haaland, is on the brink of returning to action after a prolonged injury. Haaland, who has been out of play since December 6th due to a foot injury, has been sorely missed by the Cityzens in their recent fixtures.
The Norwegian forward's absence was felt during the nine matches he missed, including the team's triumph at the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. However, Haaland's recent participation in a full training session in Abu Dhabi, without experiencing any discomfort, signals a promising comeback.
Local media sources report that Manchester City is taking a cautious approach to reintegrate Haaland onto the field. This careful strategy implies that Haaland might not feature in City's upcoming FA Cup fourth-round tie against Tottenham. Instead, the team is targeting the Premier League clash with Burnley on January 31st or the subsequent fixture against Brentford on February 5th for his return.
During his acceptance speech for the best men's player award at the Globe Soccer Awards, Haaland expressed his eagerness to return, stating, "I'm getting bored of not playing." His commitment to Manchester City remains unwavering as he hailed it as a "fantastic club."
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City's manager, acknowledged the gravity of Haaland's injury, which turned out to be more severe than initially anticipated. Guardiola remarked, "It was a little bit more than we expected in the beginning. It's a bone, it needs time." He further noted the unique challenges of Haaland's recovery due to his physical stature compared to a player like Phil Foden.
Despite his month-long absence, Haaland remains the top scorer for Manchester City in the 2023-24 campaign, with an impressive tally of 19 goals and five assists in 22 games across all competitions.
Interestingly, the Premier League's two leading scorers, Haaland and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, are both currently sidelined due to injuries. Salah, who shares the top scorer spot with Haaland, is also expected to be out for an extended period. Salah's agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, took to social media to update on the Egyptian's injury, stating, "His injury is more serious than first thought."
The timing of Haaland's return is critical for Manchester City as they navigate a busy fixture schedule. His comeback will undoubtedly boost the team's attacking options and morale. Fans and the club alike eagerly await Haaland's return to the pitch, hoping for a continuation of his prolific scoring form.
