Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has confirmed that star striker Erling Haaland will be absent from the squad for their upcoming match against Newcastle this weekend. Haaland has been sidelined for a month due to a foot injury, and his recovery is still ongoing.
This news comes as a blow to the Premier League champions, as Haaland has been in exceptional form this season. Despite his absence, the Norwegian forward remains the league’s joint-top scorer, alongside Mo Salah, with 14 goals in 15 games. In all competitions, Haaland has found the net 19 times in 22 appearances.
Unfortunately for Manchester City, Haaland’s absence will continue, and young talent Julian Alvarez will once again take the lead upfront. However, there is some positive news on the injury front, as playmaker Kevin de Bruyne is set to make a return to the starting lineup. De Bruyne recently returned after a five-month absence due to a hamstring injury and made an impact in City’s 5-0 victory over Huddersfield in the FA Cup.
Guardiola expressed his confidence in De Bruyne’s fitness, stating that the midfielder is ready to start and looked sharp in training. The manager also believes that the upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi will further benefit De Bruyne’s recovery process.
With Haaland’s absence and De Bruyne’s return to the squad, Manchester City will be looking to secure a victory against Newcastle and maintain their position at the top of the Premier League table.
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