PEP GUARDIOLA has confirmed Erling Haaland will miss Manchester City’s trip to Newcastle this weekend as he continues his recovery from a foot injury.
The Norwegian, 23, has now been sidelined for a month with the issue.
And he will play no part in the champions’ clash with Eddie Howe’s men at St James’ Park on Saturday evening.
When asked in his pre-match press conference about absentees in the squad, Guardiola said: “Jack [Grealish] has been sick and hopefully today he is back.
“Erling is out and John [Stones] is out.”
It will be Man City’s fifth successive Premier League game without Haaland as Julian Alvarez prepares to lead the line once more.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Yet despite a sustained period out, the ex-Borussia Dortmund man is still the league’s joint-top scorer alongside Mo Salah.
He has scored 14 goals in 15 Premier League games – and 19 in 22 in all competitions.
But while Man City will be without Haaland against Newcastle, playmaker Kevin de Bruyne is in line to start.
The Belgian, 32, returned on Sunday after five months out with a hamstring injury in a 5-0 win over Huddersfield in the FA Cup.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
And he provided an assist for Jeremy Doku just 17 minutes after coming off the bench.
Discussing his condition ahead of the weekend, Guardiola added: “Kevin De Bruyne is ready to start and I can see he is very good and the trip to Abu Dhabi [next week] will do him good too.
“I saw him yesterday and he feels good and dynamic.
“He played well, better than the sessions before Huddersfield. He’s getting better.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
