Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been granted additional recovery time before returning to club action, Norway manager Stale Solbakken has confirmed. The 26-year-old was withdrawn during Norway's 2-1 defeat to Portugal on Sunday with suspected muscle fatigue, though fears of a significant injury have been allayed.
Extra rest granted ahead of Anfield trip
As City prepare to face Liverpool in the Premier League this Sunday, Solbakken revealed that Haaland has been allowed extra time off. The Norway boss said the striker is physically 'spent' after his efforts during the international window, and his wish for additional rest was granted before he returns to the City training ground.
Solbakken said: "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."
Extreme strain on key players
"Erling was simply thoroughly spent. Some of my players have only had six or seven days of holiday. And you do not live off your physical condition in a normal job," he added. "Then it is straight into the start of the season, followed by a mini-tournament, so it is an extreme strain. 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 strong form in the Premier League this season, scoring five goals in as many games. He has appeared in every match for Enzo Maresca's side, including scoring twice in the 2-0 Champions League win over FC Porto.
Financial charges verdict looms
Attention will turn to Merseyside this weekend, with City expected to face questions over the independent commission's verdict on their financial breaches. The Premier League had charged the club with 115 financial breaches spanning nine seasons between 2009-10 and 2017-18, which City denied. The commission found the club guilty on 114 counts. An appeal has been lodged, but pressure is mounting for severe punishment if the appeal fails.
England manager Thomas Tuchel commented on the impact of the outcome on his City players: "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."
