Pep Guardiola insists Erling Haaland will miss Manchester City’s next few games despite the striker appearing to return to light training.
Haaland hobbled off the pitch during City’s FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth in March and left the Vitality Stadium on crutches.
It was later confirmed that the Norway international had suffered a nasty ankle injury and could be out for five to seven weeks – potentially missing the rest of the season.
It’s a big blow for the Citizens in their fight to qualify for the ChampionsLeague, as Haaland has scored 30 goals in 40 games across all competitions so far this campaign.
So fans were surprised and delighted on Thursday when the 24-year-old shared a video on his Instagram story of him jogging in City’s training ground gym.
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At the end of the clip, Haaland could be heard saying: ‘We’re getting there!’, suggesting a return to action was near.
However, Guardiola has dismissed a speedy return for his talisman while sharing an update on his squad ahead of their trip to Everton on Saturday.
‘Not ready. Next games he will not be ready,’ the manager said of Haaland in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
First-choice goalkeeper Ederson has also been ruled out of the Premier League clash at Goodison Park after he was forced off with a muscle injury in last weekend’s 5-2 win over Crystal Palace.
‘Not ready for tomorrow. I don’t know [if it’s long-term]. For this game he is not ready,’ Guardiola added.
Additionally, Nathan Ake and John Stones are ‘getting better’ and there is good news regarding Phil Foden and Manuel Akanji, the latter having been sidelined since undergoing surgery for an adductor injury in February.
‘They came back. Phil just on Thursday and today with his second session since Old Trafford [the Manchester derby two weeks ago].
‘And Manu, he made two or three sessions with us and I see him moving really well.’
City are currently fifth in the table, which will be enough to seal a UCL qualification spot but Chelsea and Aston Villa are only a point behind.
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