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Pep Guardiola provides an update on Erling Haaland’s fitness ahead of Sevilla and Fulham clashes.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on Erling Haaland’s fitness ahead of matches against Sevilla and Fulham, with the player in contention to return for this weekend’s Premier League match against Fulham.
The striker suffered a foot issue and a fever on Saturday, missing the team’s 1-0 victory over Leicester City.
In his 11 Premier League games thus far this season, Haaland has scored 17 goals, and his absence last weekend left Fantasy Premier League managers in a bind.
While he will not be risked for City’s Champions League dead rubber clash against Sevilla on Wednesday, he could be back in the starting XI for the visit of the Cottagers on Saturday afternoon.
Manager Pep Guardiola said: ‘He feels better but is still not 100 per cent. For tomorrow he is not available. We don’t want to take a risk.’
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Despite a 0-0 draw with Borussia Dortmund last time out in which Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty, City has already qualified for the Champions League as group champions. Dortmund also progressed that night as group runners-up.
Haaland has scored five times alone in three-and-a-half Champions League games this term, taking his tally for the season to 22 in all competitions.
Elsewhere, summer signing Kalvin Phillips continues to make progress in his recovery from shoulder surgery in September but is running out of time to prove his fitness for the World Cup.
‘He’s doing partial training sessions with the team but not contact yet. We’ll see his evolution,’ Guardiola said of the former Leeds United star.
In the third round of the EFL Cup, City will host Chelsea after playing Fulham at home on Saturday.
A third consecutive game at home sees them take on Brentford in their final game before the World Cup, resuming their league campaign away to Leeds on 28 December.