Erling Haaland, who missed Manchester City’s thrashing of Liverpool on Saturday due to injury, might return as soon as next week.
City were without the 22-year-old for this weekend’s 4-1 success over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, as the Blues recovered from behind to defeat Jurgen Klopp’s side.
After Julian Alvarez cancelled out Mo Salah’s opening, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Jack Grealish scored in the second half to propel City to their sixth successive win in all competitions.
On Saturday afternoon, the Blues were without Erling Haaland, who is still recovering from a groin injury that prompted him to withdraw from international duty.
Haaland missed two European Championship qualification games, as Norway lost 3-0 to Spain and drew 1-1 with Georgia.
The striker was missing from the matchday squad this weekend after missing first-team training sessions at the City Football Academy the previous week.
Prior to the international breaƙ, the 22-year-old had scored five goals against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League and three times against Burnley in the Emirates FA Cup.
Haaland, who has already become City’s leading goalscorer in a single season, has 42 goals in all competitions for the Blues this season.
In addition to dominating the Premier League golden boot race with 28 goals in 26 appearances, Haaland has now scored six hat-tricks this season.
Pep Guardiola intimated after Saturday’s triumph over Liverpool that the Blues’ talisman may return from injury next week, when the Champions travel to Saint Mary’s to face Southampton in the Premier League.
“Hopefully this week he’ll have time to prepare for Southampton and Bayern, and he’ll be able to help us like he has all season,” Guardiola added.
“He felt better yesterday than he had the prior two days.”
Guardiola will be relieved to hear of a probable return ahead of a crucial Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich, since the Catalan is also dealing with the absence of Phil Foden, who underwent appendix surgery last month.
After withdrawing from the England camp to undergo appendix removal surgery, Foden may not return to action until an FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United on Saturday 22nd April at Wembley Stadium.
Guardiola stated on Friday, “The doctors tell me 2-3 weeks, I guess, and we’ll see how he progresses.”
