Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola has given a much-awaited about forward Erling Haaland. Haaland has been missing quite a few games in the last three weeks since he was taken off the pitch during City’s Champions League fixture against Borussia Dortmund. 

Guardiola hinted that the Norwegian might sit out the final two games before all the players head out for the FIFA World Cup 2022. The city will face Chelsea in the third round of the League Cup and will also host Brentford at the Etihad Stadium. 

“He is still not perfect. He is getting better. The main thing is the bone was not broken – the ligament is damaged a little bit, so he’s still not perfect right now. If he feels good, he will play for the national team – it is so important for the players. I never stop players playing for their national team,” Guardiola said. 

After missing two games, Haaland came off the bench against Fulham on Saturday. The defending champions were left impaired inside 30 minutes when Joao Cancelo was given a red card, but they earned a late penalty in injury time. Haaland stepped up to take the spot kick and finished it imperiously to the keeper’s right.

It took Haaland’s goal tally for the season to 23 across all competitions, which includes 18 in the Premier League. With the league not even halfway from ending, Haaland has set his eyes on the record for most goals scored in a 38-game season, which is currently in possession of Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who scored 32 in his first season for the club.

Haaland could also surpass the 34-goal record set by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole, who picked up these numbers in a 42-match season. 

Manchester City is enjoying a terrific season across all competitions. Having qualified for the Champions League round of 16 as their table-toppers, they were drawn to compete with RB Leipzig. In the Premier League, they continue to breathe underneath the neck of Arsenal, who is just two points ahead of the Northern club at the top of the table.