Erling Haaland, Manchester City's star striker, will be sidelined until the end of January due to a foot injury, according to manager Pep Guardiola. The Norwegian forward, who shares the Premier League's top scorer position with Mohamed Salah, is expected to resume training during the team's camp in Abu Dhabi next week.
Guardiola revealed the nature of Haaland's injury, stating, "It's the bone. It needs time." The 23-year-old, absent from City's last eight games across all competitions, is projected to return to action by the conclusion of the month. Guardiola underscored Haaland's significance, expressing hope for a trouble-free last four or five months of the season upon his return.
In addition to Haaland, Swiss defender Manuel Akanji will also remain inactive until the end of the month. On a positive note, Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is set to make a comeback. Guardiola confirmed De Bruyne's return to the starting lineup after recovering from a hamstring injury earlier in the season.
Optimistic about De Bruyne's progress, Guardiola remarked, "He is getting better now, he will have a few days off after this game and can train in Abu Dhabi to be better for the next few months."
As Manchester City faces Newcastle United in the Premier League and readies for upcoming fixtures in the FA Cup and league, Guardiola maintains confidence in the team's performance. Despite trailing leaders Liverpool by five points with a game in hand, Guardiola believes City can still mathematically secure a fourth consecutive league title. Newcastle, currently ninth in the league, enters the game after suffering three consecutive defeats in the league.