Man City confirm fresh Erling Haaland injury blow as Pep Guardiola delivers update | OneFootball

Guardiola also confirms defensive pair are ready to feature on Wednesday

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Erling Haaland picked up a knock in Manchester City’s loss to Aston Villa.

For Haaland, it was the first time he had failed to score for club or country since August.

The Norway international is unlikely to be handed an immediate chance to get back among the goals when Man City face Swansea in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

Following the trip to Wales, City face Bournemouth, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool at home before the November international break, and Guardiola says he will not take any risks with Haaland’s fitness.

“The Carabao Cup has always been like that,” he aded. “The guys who take a lot of minutes be ready to show me and show themselves and the team they are completely recovered and ready mentally and the skills and everything to be ready to play.

“And some rest especially for the players who play a lot of minutes. Not just Erling, Ruben and Josko and the other ones.

“In the previous season we were in that stage with a lot of injuries. Now we have less and now have players who need minutes to get. And the Carabao Cup is perfect for that.”

Erling Haaland cut a frustrated figure in Man City’s loss to Aston Villa

AFP via Getty Images

While Rodri remains sidelined, Guardiola also confirmed Rayan Ait-Nouri is “ready” to start and offered a positive update on Abdukodir Khusanov who has missed the last seven games.

“Rodri still is not ready. He's getting better, he's training but of course, after what happened twice, we are going to see,” the Man City boss added.

“Khusanov is ready, he'll play a few minutes tomorrow.”