Haaland ready to return against Southampton, says Guardiola

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is fit and ready to return from an ankle injury, according to manager Pep Guardiola.

The 24-year-old has been sidelined since March after picking up a knock during City’s FA Cup clash with Bournemouth but has made his return to the squad recently.

He was an unused substitute on City’s bench during their 1-0 win over Wolves last time out. Guardiola confirmed his availability for this weekend’s clash with Southampton, though he stopped short of mentioning whether the Norwegian will start.

“He is ready, he is fit. [If he will] start, we will see tomorrow,” Guardiola said.

Haaland last featured for City in the Premier League in their clash against Brighton on March 15, where his early penalty marked his 100th goal involvement in the Premier League (84 goals, 16 assists).

He reached the milestone in just 94 games – faster than any other player in the competition’s history.

His return comes at a key point in the season, with City still pushing to secure Champions League qualification. They are currently third in the Premier League table, three points above sixth-placed Nottingham Forest with three matches to go.

After facing Southampton, Manchester City will take on Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 17.

In an interview with ESPN earlier this week, Haaland spoke candidly about his side’s underwhelming campaign, attributing their dip in form to a loss of intensity after winning four consecutive league titles.

“You can find excuses, injuries, many injuries at bad times, but in the end, we haven't been performing well enough,” the Norwegian said.

“We haven't had fully the hunger inside us. I haven't been good enough. I haven't helped the team enough. In the end, we just haven't been good enough.”

When asked if Haaland’s response was fair, Guardiola replied: “If it's a feeling for Erling, the players should talk to each other and ask themselves why.”

Haaland has 21 goals in 28 Premier League appearances this season, making him just the second player to score 20+ goals in each of his first three Premier League seasons (36 in 2022-23, 27 in 2023-24 and 20 this term) – after Ruud van Nistelrooy (between 2001-02 and 2003-04).

Despite being sidelined through injury, he remains City’s only player to hit double figures in the league and has 30 goals in 40 games across all competitions this season.

Having won the Premier League Golden Boot in each of the past two seasons since his arrival in Manchester, he now trails Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah by seven goals with just three matches remaining.