Pep Guardiola reveals expected Erling Haaland return date
- The Norwegian hasn't played since City lost 1-0 to Aston Villa on 6 December
- Haaland absent for last four Premier League games and missed Club World Cup
- Guardiola confirms foot problem is bone related and needs more time to heal
Pep Guardiola doesn't expect Erling Haaland to return to action for Manchester City until early February, with the Norwegian still nursing a foot injury.
Haaland hasn't played since City's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on December 6, missing the club's last four Premier League games and the Club World Cup.
City have kept their cool in Haaland's absence, picking up 10 points from a possible 12 in the Premier League, and recently welcomed Kevin De Bruyne back to soften the blow of missing their lead talisman.
Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden have stepped up in the goalscoring department for City, and they'll need to be at their best when the champions take on Newcastle United at St James' Park in Saturday's late game.
Speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference, Guardiola confirmed that Haaland is still not ready to return to action, admitting his bone-related issue has gone on a little longer than the club had initially expected.
"A little bit of disturbing problems in his feet. It’s fine. The doctors decided to stop for one week and maybe restart in Abu Dhabi," Guardiola said.
“Hopefully at the end of this month he’ll be ready. It [the injury] was a little bit more than we expected in the beginning. It’s a bone, it needs time. Every injury you can do whatever you want but it’s a question of time. When you are injured at the end of November you miss a lot of games. It’s the toughest period.
“I think Phil is playing In one of the best moments since we were together. He loves to play football and he has been decisive in his terms and goals and rhythms and everything. Julian as well.
“Both are really important because they have a sense of goal. We miss Erling a lot, though. We need him. Hopefully he can come back and play the last four or five months of the season without a problem.”
Guardiola also confirmed that Manuel Akanji will be out of action for a few weeks, joining the already sidelined John Stones on City's treatment table.
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