Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been given extra time off amid injury fears. The Norwegian was forced off during their 2-1 defeat to Portugal on Sunday, with suspected muscle fatigue, though fears over a serious injury have been allayed.
Norway boss confirms extra rest
With City set to face Liverpool in the Premier League this Sunday, Norway manager Stale Solbakken has confirmed that the 26-year-old has been afforded more time off ahead of the crunch match at Anfield. Solbakken described Haaland as 'being spent' after his efforts during the international break.
“It’s not just him - there’s a whole bunch leaving now. They’ve been given a few days off by their clubs so they’ve booked a private plane - like you and I can’t afford,” Solbakken said. “Erling was simply thoroughly spent. Some of my players have only had six or seven days of holiday.”
Heavy workload and form
“And you do not live off your physical condition in a normal job. Then it is straight into the start of the season, followed by a mini-tournament, so it is an extreme strain,” he added. “He’s in the group that carries the heaviest workload - precisely because his team plays in every tournament and he’s the main man.”
Haaland has been in red-hot form in the top-flight this season with five goals in as many games. He has been ever-present for Enzo Maresca's side, scoring twice in the 2-0 win over FC Porto in the Champions League.
Verdict fallout ahead of Anfield trip
All eyes will be on Merseyside this weekend with those associated with City expected to be quizzed on the verdict for their alleged financial breaches. The Premier League had charged them with 115 financial breaches over a nine-season period between 2009-10 and 2017-18, which City steadfastly denied. But a verdict from the independent commission after a prolonged legal battle found the club guilty on 114 counts. An appeal has been lodged but calls are growing for a significant punishment for their purported breaches.
England boss Thomas Tuchel said of the verdict: “If I say now it’s not then I can just speak for myself, which would be totally narrow-minded. I think it is a distraction. It is. Let’s say it is a subject. If it’s a distraction, I don’t know. It is of course a topic and we speak about it at dinner and at a table of eight or 12 people. We speak about it at breakfast. I know the Man City players get a lot of messages and phone calls and feedback about it.”
