Man City injury update: Erling Haaland, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has one major fitness concern ahead of visiting Real Madrid in the Champions League

Manchester City may be without prolific striker Erling Haaland as they face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The Norwegian was a surprise omission from the squad to face Newcastle in the FA Cup this weekend, sparking concern among fans.

City fared fine in his absence, dispatching the Magpies 3-1 thanks to a goal from Savinho and Omar Marmoush’s brace, and there was more good news as Nico O’Reilly shook off a knock to feature in the starting lineup.

It remains to be seen, though, whether Guardiola’s ever-reliable striker Haaland will feature when they visit the Bernabeu this week.

With that in mind, here is all the latest Manchester City injury news and potential return dates...

Erling Haaland

The news that Erling Haaland had not travelled with City’s matchday squad to face Newcastle in the FA Cup on Saturday left many supporters concerned, but Pep Guardiola has assured them there is little to worry about.

Speaking ahead of kick-off, he confirmed his absence was pre-planned, with an eye to resting his talisman striker ahead of a season-defining run of fixtures, including the Carabao Cup final and Champions League round of 16.

“I was not planning to play him,” Guardiola said. “I would prefer [him to have] good training sessions than to travel and play just 10-15 minutes.”

He had also missed last weekend’s defeat of Leeds with a knock, but returned to face Nottingham Forest midweek.

Haaland is expected to make the plane as City visit Real Madrid - who will be without Kylian Mbappe - this week, with Guardiola set to issue an update at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

Potential return date: March 11 vs Real Madrid (A)

Comeback pending: Erling Haaland

AFP via Getty Images

Josko Gvardiol

Croatia international Josko Gvardiol has been sidelined since breaking his leg in a draw with Chelsea early in the new year.

He had been a mainstay in Guardiola’s side to that point, and his injury exacerbated a developing injury crisis.

Writing on his social media at the time, Gvardiol said: "This is a hard moment, but it will never define me. I know who I am and where I come from. I'll fight every day to return stronger. I will rise again, better than ever."

Potential return date: Summer 2026

Mateo Kovacic has played just 39 competitive minutes for City this season as he works to shake off an ankle injury sustained at last summer’s Club World Cup, but it seems he may be closing in on a long-awaited return to the pitch.

He has undergone two surgeries on the affected joint this season, and Guardiola recently revealed that he is back in first-team training.

“Finally, he’s back training for the last three or four training sessions,” said Guardiola last week.

“Still, his condition needs time. But the most important after second surgery in his ankle is much better than the first one.

“Maybe he can give us good quality until the end of the season.”

After spending so long on the sidelines, it will take some time for Kovacic to work back to full match fitness, so it remains to be seen how long it will take for him to fight his way back into City’s matchday squad.

Whether he is called up to Croatia’s squad for the March international break will also be telling.

Potential return date: Late March/April

Max Alleyne is due to return from a knock in the coming days

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Max Alleyne

Defender Max Alleyne was recalled from a loan spell at Watford in January to help alleviate City’s injury headaches, and he has made eight appearances since.

But he limped off during an FA Cup defeat of Salford City on Valentine's Day, and is yet to return to the first-team fold.

He is understood to be working through a knock, but stepped up his recovery this week.

On Friday evening, he completed a full 90 minutes in the Premier League 2 defeat of Aston Villa, during which City kept a clean sheet.

Having returned to the pitch, Alleyne will hope to lay claim to a seat on the plane as City head to Madrid this week.