Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is set to be sidelined for up to seven weeks after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final victory over Bournemouth, manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
The Norwegian forward was substituted in the 61st minute after scoring City’s equaliser in their 2-1 win. A video later surfaced on social media showing the 24-year-old leaving the Vitality Stadium on crutches with his left ankle in a protective boot.
“The doctors have told me it could be between five to seven weeks,” Guardiola said. “Hopefully, he will be back by the end of the season and ready for the Club World Cup. Sometimes, these things happen throughout a season.”
City announced on Monday that Haaland would see a specialist and remain hopeful he will be fit to play again before the season ends, including in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
Despite missing a penalty and two major chances against Bournemouth, Haaland managed to turn in Nico O’Reilly’s cross to equalise before Omar Marmoush sealed the win.
The FA Cup now represents City’s only remaining shot at silverware this season following a challenging Premier League campaign and early exits from both the Champions League and Carabao Cup. Guardiola has had to navigate multiple injuries to key players throughout the season, with City currently sitting fifth in the league, one point behind Chelsea in the race for a Champions League spot.
What games will Erling Haaland miss?
If sidelined for five weeks, Haaland would miss six matches, including City’s FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on 26 April. This timeline suggests a potential return for the Premier League fixture against Southampton on 10 May.
A seven-week absence, however, would put Haaland in doubt for the FA Cup final on 17 May, should City progress past Forest.
He would then target a comeback for City’s final league match against Fulham on 25 May before the FIFA Club World Cup in June and July.
City’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa has been postponed due to their FA Cup commitments, with a new date yet to be confirmed.
