Erling Haaland’s Absence: Manchester City Without Their Star Striker for Five to Seven Weeks
Erling Haaland, the star striker of Manchester City, is expected to be sidelined for “five to seven weeks,” according to medical staff estimates, as announced by coach Pep Guardiola on Tuesday.
Haaland suffered an injury to his left ankle during a clash with a Bournemouth player in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday, just after he had scored his 30th goal of the season across all competitions. The 24-year-old striker is currently second in the Premier League’s top scorers list with 21 goals, trailing behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who has 27. He has also netted eight goals in nine Champions League matches and one more in the FA Cup.
“The doctors have told me that his absence will be between five and seven weeks, so I hope he will be ready for the end of the season and the Club World Cup,” Guardiola stated when asked during a press conference about the duration of his player’s unavailability.
If this estimate holds true, Haaland could potentially return in time for the FA Cup final, scheduled for May 17, provided that Manchester City manages to eliminate Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals at the end of April.
His prolonged absence is a significant blow for Manchester City, the reigning four-time English champions, as their qualification for the next Champions League remains uncertain. Only the top four teams in the Premier League qualify for the next C1, and Manchester City currently sits in fifth place, just one point behind fourth-place Chelsea. Guardiola’s men are set to face Leicester on Wednesday, followed by a clash with Manchester United on Sunday.
