‘He could almost not walk’ – Man City taking Erling Haaland injury ‘day by day’ as Pep Guardiola provides fitness update after seeing star striker sit out crucial win at Luton Town

Pep Guardiola provided an update on Erling Haaland, who missed Manchester City’s vital win over Luton Town due to injury.

Haaland was unable to accompany City to Kenilworth Road after injuring his foot in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa. The Norwegian was in a lot of discomfort after the 1-0 setback at Villa Park due to a bone stress reaction in his foot.

WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

“The day after Villa he could almost not walk properly,” Guardiola told a press conference, according to journalist Sam Lee. “Yesterday I spoke to him saying, ‘I feel much better, I can walk, I have no pain,’ that’s why we have to see how he is day by day.”

THE LARGER IMAGE
Guardiola suggested Haaland might return next week or in time for the Club World Cup if he is not out for an extended period of time. “It’s not a fracture, just a stress on the bone, hopefully can be ready against Crystal Palace, if not then Saudi Arabia,” the head coach said. Guardiola also stated that Jeremy Doku, who suffered a muscular injury against Tottenham, would be back in roughly two weeks.

WHAT DID YOU KNOW?
Before his injury, Haaland had started every Premier League game for City. He is still the league’s leading scorer with 14 goals and the Champions League’s equal top scorer with five goals.