Manchester City have been handed an unwanted injury scare after Erling Haaland was spotted wincing in pain during a Norway training session. The striker is said to have limped out of training with his national team, after a social media clip surfaced of the striker in visible discomfort.
Haaland, who has missed a chunk of the campaign already through injury, could be seen on his haunches during a Norway’s training session. The video, which was shared on X by @StatCity, showed the City ace struggling to move around, while putting his hands on his knees.
The ex-Borussia Dortmund star missed 12 matches for the reigning Premier League champions earlier in the season, having been ruled out of action for the best part of two months with a foot problem.
He’s already missed more football this term than he did during the entirety of his maiden campaign in England, but should he pick up another knock while away with Norway, it will be the second consecutive season he’s come back from the March international break injured.
City have previously taken measures to ensure Haaland stays fit while away, with reports last year suggesting the Etihad Stadium outfit had sent a member of their own fitness team along to monitor him while on international duty. However, it could well be that Haaland’s latest fitness concern stemmed while back in Manchester, with the £85.5million man substituted late on during City’s win over Newcastle United at the weekend.
The extent of the problem isn’t yet known, but it’s claimed Haaland wasn’t able to complete the scheduled training session, with the 23-year-old instead limping off the field. Norway are set to play the Czech Republic in the first of two international friendlies this week, but concern from a City point of view, thoughts have already switched to the upcoming title tussle with Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola’s side welcome last season’s runners-up to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, March 31st, in what is being billed as a key clash in the Premier League title race. The Gunners currently lead the pack, but by the time the fixture rolls around Arsenal could find themselves in second, as Liverpool play before the pair in the earlier kick-off.
Guardiola will be left fretting over the fitness status of his talismanic forward, especially given the impact he had against Arsenal in the title run-in last season. Haaland scored both home and away against the north London outfit, as City went on to secure a historic treble.
Remarkably, with less than three months of the campaign left to play, City’s treble defence remains alive. The Blues booked their spot in the FA Cup semi-finals over the weekend with a commanding victory over Newcastle, while they’ll look to retain their European crown when taking on continental giants Real Madrid in the Champions League last-eight next month.
