Pep Guardiola says £51m Manchester City player could make his return from injury against Newcastle

Add as preferred source on Google

Pep Guardiola has admitted that one of his key Manchester City players could return from injury in time to face Newcastle United at the weekend.

Man City have had to deal with a number of injuries in the last few weeks but could get some positive news with the potential return of Erling Haaland.

Haaland has missed the last four Premier League games due to a foot injury, but could return soon. In his press conference before their FA Cup victory over Huddersfield Town at the weekend, Guardiola claimed that the striker has resumed light training and is hopeful he can play on Saturday on Tyneside.

Pep says star striker could return against Newcastle

“Erling is a little better, his bone, so we need to be careful,“ he said, as reported by the Evening Standard.

“[He’s had] two or three sessions and feels good. Hopefully, [he can play soon but], I don’t know for Sunday or for Newcastle.“

Although Man City haven’t necessarily missed the Norwegian star who already has 14 goals in this campaign, Guardiola will be please to see his leading man back in the team as soon as possible.

Haaland doesn’t have a brilliant record against Newcastle, at least for him, but the defenders still won’t be pleased to hear that he could make his return at St James’ Park.

Being a more physical striker, Haaland actually struggled against Jamaal Lascelles last season, although it did end in a 2-0 defeat for Newcastle.

Whether or not that comes into Eddie Howe’s thinking for his team selection is another matter, but you’d imagine Sven Botman would still keep his spot in the team regardless to give Newcastle the best chance of winning against City.

Newcastle could be in for another thriller vs City

The last time these two teams faced each other in the North East in the Premier League it ended in a six-goal thriller with both teams walking away with a hard-earned point.

Both sides had gone all out for the victory and it was the perfect advert for the Premier League in terms of all the attacking play, though Howe will have been disappointed not to come away with a win having been 3-1 up.

From a neutral perspective this looks like a great game on paper, but Newcastle’s recent form, particularly in the league, will have many fans feeling a bit apprehensive while City are back on course to fight for the title.