Pep Guardiola Confirm Erling Haaland’s set to make a comeback for Manchester City in their midweek Premier League match against Burnley.
The Norwegian striker, sidelined since December 6 with a foot injury, has missed 10 games across various competitions.
Haaland, 22, has scored 19 goals this season despite missing the past 10 games and is set to return to the squad against Burnley this week.
“First time he is back,” Guardiola told a news conference on Tuesday.
“We have all the squad, we are stronger. He is an important player for us.”
Guardiola has previously suggested midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will be eased back in gently following a five-month absence with a hamstring injury but hinted Haaland might be ready to come straight back into the team at the Etihad on Wednesday.
“Haaland had a stress of the bone, so it is a completely different approach, but step by step.”
City face Burnley on the back of a seven-match winning run, including the 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the FA Cup on Friday.
Guardiola’s team sit five behind leaders Liverpool at the top of the Premier League as they head into the second half of the season looking for a record fourth title in a row.
“It’s one game at a time,” Guardiola said.
“We made these [winning] runs in the past because it was just one game. It’s Burnley, Burnley, Burnley.
“It doesn’t matter what we have done in the past, but I am delighted we have almost all of the squad fit.
[Manuel Akanji] is back. He trained really well without knee problems and John [Stones] as well.
“That is the best news for an important part of the season. Of course with the FA Cup and Champions League, it is important to have everybody.”
Guardiola was also asked about his former club Barcelona, who will be on the hunt for a new head coach at the end of the season following Xavi’s decision to leave.
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Xavi, who was a mainstay of Guardiola’s great Barcelona managerial era, is stepping down partly because of the mental toll of the position.
“From a mental-health level, it’s tough too. I am a positive guy, but the battery levels keep running out – and at some point, you realise there’s no point in staying,” he said.
Asked about Xavi’s decision, Guardiola said:
“We cannot compare the pressure we have in England to Spain, in my experience.
“It’s a thousand times tougher there. Six press conferences a week, a lot of games.
“The pressure you feel in Barcelona is not comparable anywhere else.”
Xavi announced his departure shortly after Jurgen Klopp revealed he would be leaving Liverpool in the summer.
Guardiola has been at City since 2016 and says he is not thinking about ending his time with the club soon.
“I have everything a manager could dream of.
How they support me. We changed a lot of players in seven years but all of them have been incredibly supportive. Good environment.
I have everything.
“I feel good and of course one day it is going to finish but I don’t think about that now.”
