Erling Haaland has been ruled out of Manchester City’s trip to Brighton (Picture: Getty)
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Erling Haaland will play no part in Manchester City’s clash with Brighton, but Phil Foden and John Stones have been passed fit for Thursday’s Premier League clash.
Haaland – the joint-leading goalscorer in the English top flight this season – was absent from City’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Chelsea at the weekend due to a muscle issue and has not returned to first-team training.
Foden, meanwhile, played the full 90 minutes at Wembley as Bernardo Silva’s 84th-minute strike secured the holders place in the final, setting up a repeat of last year’s showpiece.
The England attacking midfielder subsequently missed training on Tuesday and emerged as a possible doubt for the champions’ trip to the south coast – but it appears he has shaken off the problem and is in line to feature at the Amex Stadium.
Stones, who came off at half-time at Wembley, was pictured taking part in Tuesday’s training session and could join Foden in Guardiola’s starting XI against the Seagulls, with third-placed City looking to move to within a point of leaders Arsenal.
Asked for an update on Haaland, Foden and Stones at his pre-match press conference this afternoon, City head coach Guardiola replied: ‘Erling is not ready for tomorrow.
‘The other two, they are ready.’
Foden and Stones could both feature at the Amex Stadium (Picture: Getty)
Pressed on the severity of Haaland’s problem, Guardiola responded: ‘No, it’s not what I’m concerned… concerned, no.
‘It’s not a big issue but he’s not allowed for this game.’
Guardiola batted off the suggestion that he could use the trip to Brighton as an opportunity to rotate his squad during their tricky run-in.
‘I don’t know, what does it mean rotate? Players can play and deserve to play,’ the Catalan said.
‘I know every person has his starting XI but everyone has a contribution so now we have had three or four days since the last game against Chelsea.
‘Tomorrow is one of the toughest games of the season, Brighton away.
‘If you put it in my calendar, it’s one of the toughest ones for the way they play.’
More to follow.