Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided a positive update on the fitness of Erling Haaland ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Southampton at St Mary’s.
Haaland made a welcome return to first-team training last week before watching on as an unused substitute in City’s narrow 1-0 home win over Wolves, having previously missed six games with an ankle injury.
Guardiola acknowledged after the match that he “was thinking” about bringing the Norwegian on in the second half, but he decided to call upon other players from the bench as the striker had only taken part in two training sessions prior to the clash with Wolves.
Haaland has since taken part in training throughout this week and Guardiola has confirmed that Man City’s top scorer is available for selection and could start against already-relegated Southampton.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Guardiola said: “He’s ready. He’s fit to start, we decide tomorrow.”
Haaland has scored 21 of his 30 goals this season in the Premier League and netted the only goal in the reverse fixture against Southampton – a slender 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium in October last year.
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Rodri, Ake, Bobb, Stones all remain unavailable
Guardiola was also asked to deliver an update on the fitness of Rodri, Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb who have all returned to training after spells out with injuries.
Rodri has stepped up his recovery from an ACL injury sustained back in September last year, while both Ake and Bobb have returned to partial training after recovering from respective foot and hamstring issues.
“[Rodri is] still not available,” Guardiola told reporters. “[Ake and Bobb have] started training with us partially, but they’re still not available.”
Meanwhile, defender John Stones also remains sidelined as he continues to recover from a thigh injury which has kept his out since the middle of February.
Man City will be regarded as firm favourites to come out on top against a “diabolical” Southampton side, but Guardiola has “huge respect” for the Saints and has discussed the possibility of twists and turns emerging in the race for a top-five finish.
“We start 0-0 and it is a massive important game for us,” said the Catalan coach. “Three games left. Huge respect for them.
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Guardiola fully focused on Southampton as City target top-five finish
“[City’s current form] It’s the best results we got in a row. In the beginning of the season we did it. In terms of today, we can do better.
“Huge respect for us from Southampton. The target when you’re not champions is to qualify for the next Champions League season. I think there are six, seven teams that can qualify (for the top five).
“If we make three victories, we’ll be there. It’s in our hands, so we don’t need to wait for anything else. This is what we have to do. Win one game, the next one and then the next one.”
Asked if finishing above Arsenal in second and winning thee FA Cup would represent a successful season for Man City, Guardiola added: “I’m not thinking about that, I’m sorry to tell you.
“It’s just Southampton in my mind and all week I’m thinking about them, a lot of hours in my mind during the day. It’s only what I’m concerned. The rest, the analysis – at the end of the season, we will do it.”
Man City currently sit third in the Premier League table, three points behind Arsenal in second, one point above both Newcastle United and Chelsea in fourth and fifth respectively, and three points clear of Nottingham Forest in sixth.
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