Erling Haaland has told fans he is ‘trying to get back ASAP’ after suffering a second ankle injury of the month on international duty, handing Manchester City fans a scare over their star’s fitness.
The Norway striker twisted his ankle during his country’s 2-0 friendly win over the Faroe Islands and looked in considerable pain.
It is the Norwegian goal machine‘s second ankle issue this month after he came off at half-time in the 6-1 demolition job of Bournemouth on November 4, raising concerns he may not be fit to play in the marquee fixture against the Reds.
As such, he has been ruled out of Norway’s final Euros qualifier against Scotland and will be desperate to play when City host Liverpool in a top-of-the-table clash on November 25.
‘Unfortunately, I am missing tomorrow’s game against Scotland. Wishing the boys all the best,’ he wrote on Instagram.
Erling Haaland looked in considerable pain as he suffered his second ankle injury of the month
The Man City striker had come on for Norway in a 2-0 friendly win against the Faroe Islands
‘Now treatment and trying to get back ASAP’.
While he gritted his teeth until the end against the Faroe Islands on Thursday, the worry for City is that the 23-year-old had already aggravated his ankle this month.
He was withdrawn at half-time in City’s 6-1 demolition job of Bournemouth on November 4.
Within 24 hours he told Pep Guardiola that the pain had subsided, and within three days he started and scored twice against BSC Young Boys in the Champions League.
Man City’s sports therapist Mario Pafundi accompanied Haaland on international duty as is customary and Norway have been in contact with his club.
Norway’s team doctor, Ola Sand, said that while the issue is not serious, ‘he is in so much pain and somewhat restricted function’ that he will not be able to face Scotland at Hampden Park.
The fixture is a dead rubber them them as they cannot catch Scotland or Spain in the top two positions of Group A.
It is his second ankle scare of the month after he came off at half-time against Bournemouth
Haaland has been in white-hot goalscoring form this season, with 17 goals in 18 games in all competitions.
However, he faces a race against time to be ready for the Liverpool fixture, which could see the league leadership change hands as a solitary point separates the two sides.
Pep Guardiola is not just sweating over the fitness of his star striker, as several of his squad – including Ederson, Nathan Ake, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes – were withdrawn from national team selection and face a race against time to feature.
The Premier League champions will also be without long-term absentees Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Sergio Gomez.
