Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has revealed his striker Erling Haaland could miss seven weeks of action due to the ankle injury, which he suffered during a 2-1 FA Cup quarterfinal win against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.
Evanilson scored the opening goal for Bournemouth but the Norway international scored the equalizer right after the halftime break. However, Haaland suffered the injury at the one-hour mark. Omar Marmoush, who replaced Haaland, scored the winning goal for the Cityzens.
Haaland will see a specialist doctor this week.
“They told me the doctors between five to seven weeks. So hopefully the end of the season and by the Club World Cup he will be ready,” Guardiola said on Tuesday. “Sometimes there are years when these kinds of things happen. It happened all season.
“I would say that it could have been different if it was the end of the season [before the Club World Cup]. So with all the injuries we have had this season, I’m so sorry for them and for Erling as well. So [I wish him] a good recovery, as speedy as possible, then come back.”
Haaland has scored 30 goals in 40 games this season and he has been ruled out of the next two games for the time being.
A statement issued by City on Haaland’s injury on Monday evening read: “Erling underwent initial tests in Manchester on Monday morning and will now seek specialist consultation to confirm the full extent of the injury.
“Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain a full prognosis. The expectation is that Erling will be fit in time to play a further part in the remainder of this season, including this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.”
City will next host Leicester City on Wednesday and they will face Nottm Forest in the semifinal of the FA Cup on April 26.