Man City injury update: Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Savinho latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola set to be boosted by fitness of star striker

Manchester City were without Erling Haaland as they laboured to a 2-0 win over Salford City in the FA Cup.

City have closed to within four points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and now have a kind run on paper as they bid to keep the pressure on the leaders.

Erling Haaland

Haaland was not in the squad to face Salford on Saturday after he suffered a knock against Fulham last week.

The striker came off at half-time against Fulham, having scored as City raced to a 3-0 lead.

But, speaking ahead of the Salford match, Guardiola played down the severity of the injury: “[He is] not 100 per cent, but we’ll see today how he feels.

“It’s not a big issue, the doctor said to me. He had some disturbances during the game, that’s why he didn’t play the second half. We’ll see today [if he can be involved vs Salford].”

Haaland was not involved against Salford, but was in attendance at the match and appeared to be moving freely.

Guardiola will provide an update on his fitness when he holds his press conference ahead of the Newcastle game.

Potential return date: February 21 vs Newcastle (H)

Erling Haaland seemed in good spirits as he watched Manchester City beat Salford

Getty Images

Jeremy Doku

Jeremy Doku has not featured for City since he was forced off with a calf injury during the Champions League defeat of Galatasaray at the end of January.

Guardiola has not been forthcoming with updates on his recovery.

Speaking in January, though, his assistant Pep Lijnders said: "It's a similar injury as last one, only at that time it was on the outside - on the lateral side - now it's in the centre.

"Last time it took 18 days, I presume this one will be a little bit shorter, but it's in the middle, so we have to take time and we will see. Jeremy is a very robust player, so let's see."

Potential return date: February 21 vs Newcastle (H)

Jeremy Doku is closing in on a return to play

Action Images via Reuters

Savinho

Savinho has been sidelined since suffering a quad injury against Sunderland in early January.

It had been hoped the Brazilian could return in time to face Salford at the weekend after Guardiola described him off-handedly as ‘ok’ last week, but he did not make the squad.

The most recent concrete update on his condition came in late January, when Guardiola said: “Savinho still stuck. Yesterday he ran on the pitch so maybe two weeks or three weeks, or maybe less I don’t know.”

That timeline would see Savinho return to training ahead of Newcastle’s visit.

Potential return date: February 21 vs Newcastle (H) or February 28 vs Leeds (A)

Savinho is also on the comeback trail

AFP via Getty Images

Josko Gvardiol

News of Josko Gvardiol’s broken leg came as a hammer blow for Guardiola and City.

He suffered the injury in an awkward collision away to Chelsea on New Year’s Day.

The Croatia international is a mainstay in the side when fit, but is now expected to miss most of the rest of the season.

Mateo Kovacic

Mateo Kovacic has been sidelined for most of this season after undergoing surgery on an Achilles tear in the summer.

Guardiola is known to be a big fan of the player, who has suffered various setbacks in his recovery this season.

He may return to training in the coming weeks, though.

Guardiola said: "He tried to make surgery to be fit for the season and unfortunately it was not good. I spoke with him the last days and he said he feels really, really good compared to the first surgery and hopefully he can help us in the last part of the season.

"To have continuity of a game every three days will take time but as much as you can select good minutes he is a special player with special quality and mentality - another player for the biggest stages, he is so brave.

“First for his health and life to play football, that is what we want but Kova is an important player that we miss a lot."

Potential return date: Spring 2026

Max Alleyne

City were handed a new injury worry in the first half against Salford as Max Alleyne was forced off with an injury.

The youngster was recalled from his loan to Watford last month amid City’s defensive injury crisis, and has impressed in the first-team.

But he came off worse from a collision with Josh Austerfield and was replaced by Ryan McAidoo.

Guardiola did not offer an update on his condition post-match.