Man City suffer Erling Haaland blow as Pep Guardiola reveals delay to striker’s comeback from foot injury
ERLING HAALAND has gone to extreme lip-smacking lengths to get fit again – after an injury setback in the week.
Manchester City’s star – out since December 6 with a foot injury – trained before Sunday’s FA Cup win over Huddersfield.
But City boss Pep Guardiola revealed his striker was advised by doctors to rest for at least a week after feeling some pain.
Haaland later posted a snap of himself bare-chested and wearing a breathing aid on his social media pages with the words ‘think outside the box’.
He has previously explained how taping his mouth improves his sleep quality – as it encourages breathing through the nose.
Guardiola admits the injury has taken longer than they expected. Pep said: “He’s had a little bit of disturbance problems in his feet. The doctors decided to stop for one week and maybe restart in Abu Dhabi.
“It’s a bone, it needs time. With every injury you can do whatever but it’s a question of time.
“Hopefully at the end of this month he’ll be ready. It was a little bit more than we expected.”
Guardiola hopes a warm weather training camp in Abu Dhabi will prove to be what his top scorer needs.
After this evening’s trip to Newcastle, City do not play again for 13 days when they go to Tottenham in the FA Cup.
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
Haaland, 23, missed the last eight matches and even if he is ready for the Spurs tie – or the clash with Burnley five days later – he will still have missed nearly two months.
Guardiola said: “He’s been out in the toughest period. When you are injured at end of November, you miss a lot of games. And we’ve missed him.”
Manuel Akanji is the latest player to go down injured but Pep says his team have coped well with setbacks.
He said: “I’m really pleased with many aspects. We know it’s difficult because the opponents get stronger every year.”