Pep Guardiola has provided a new update on Erling Haaland’s fitness ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Tottenham on Wednesday night.
Haaland was not in the City squad for their 2-0 home defeat by Liverpool on Sunday after failing a late fitness test on a knee injury suffered towards the closing stages of last weekend’s 4-0 win over Newcastle.
The striker was also an unused substitute for last week’s Champions League knockout phase play-off second-leg loss away at Real Madrid.
Guardiola said Haaland “didn't feel good” after training before the Liverpool game but City have been hoping to have him available to face Spurs on Wednesday, when they will bid to get their bid for Champions League qualification back on track.
Speaking on Tuesday ahead of the Spurs game, with Haaland again pictured taking part in City training on Monday, Guardiola said: “Tonight we will know after training. I hope [he will be fit] but I don’t know yet.
“He feels better but the last two games he could not play. We’ll see tomorrow.”
City are currently fourth in the Premier League table and it looks like a top-five finish will be enough to secure qualification to the Champions League next season.
But just five points separate City in fourth and Fulham in 10th, and Haaland’s fitness could yet be key during the run-in.
Haaland has 19 Premier League goals so far this season, 27 across all competitions. and City badly missed him against Liverpool.
City will remain without John Stones against a resurgent Tottenham team who have now won three league games in a row as their injury crisis continues to ease, with fellow centre-back Manuel Akanji also sidelined along with Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.
Oscar Bobb has been working on his fitness after being ruled out since breaking his leg in a training session back in August.
After the visit of Spurs, City host Liverpool’s conquerors and Championship strugglers Plymouth in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, with games against Nottingham Forest and Brighton coming up ahead of the March international break.
