Pep Guardiola reveals Erling Haaland latest amid Man City injury worry | OneFootball

Star striker went off injured in midweek victory

Pep Guardiola has admitted that Erling Haaland is “not 100 per cent” after the Norwegian was withdrawn early against Fulham.

The striker was substituted at half time in the 3-0 win at the Etihad Stadium, having scored the home side’s third goal.

Now, as City prepare to face League Two Salford City in the FA Cup fourth round, Guardiola has issued another update on his star striker.

“[He is] not 100%, but we’ll see today how he feels,” the Man City boss said.

The Catalan could also not confirm whether John Stones, who made his return to the matchday squad in midweek on the bench, would feature against the fourth-tier side on Saturday.

"We will see tomorrow if he plays or how many minutes he plays,” Guardiola said of the England international, who has had to overcome a long-term thigh problem.

"Last season too [was a difficult season for him]. Fortunately, it is a long two months. The last game he played was against Leeds away.

“He has already made two or three training sessions.”

Guardiola lamented his side’s fixture pile-up in recent weeks, with City playing 13 games since the turn of the year.

"This long week I think we need because we are so, so exhausted mentally, physically, for this incredible amount of games in many, many months, with [just a] few days off. We can have a little break after the game [vs Salford].”

In the Premier League, City cut Arsenal’s lead at the top to three points, with the Gunners stuttering at Brentford on Thursday, drawing 1-1 and missing the chance to reinstate their six-point cushion.