Pep Guardiola has provided an update on the fitness of Erling Haaland and does not believe the Manchester City forward will feature against Crystal Palace this weekend.
Haaland has missed City’s last two fixtures through injury and is not expected to be included in the squad for tomorrow’s game with Palace.
The Norwegian, who has scored 14 goals in 15 Premier League games this season, has returned to training after treatment and will be assessed by the club’s medical staff.
However, Guardiola suggested the upcoming Club World Cup campaign was a more realistic aim for the 23-year-old.
“Hopefully he can travel to Saudi [for the Club World Cup], whether he can play the first game or the second, I don’t know,” Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference.
“I’m not worried. It is just stress. Day by day, week by week, we have to see how he is.”
The European champions travel to Saudi Arabia after this weekend’s clash with Palace at the Etihad, and will compete in the Club World Cup semi-final against either Mexico’s Club León or Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds on December 19.
Copa Libertadores winners Fluminense, who have also been seeded for the competition, play Al Ahly or Al-Ittihad in the other semi-final on Monday.
