Erling Haaland sparks Man City injury fears in Norway defeat
Erling HaalandErling Haaland has sparked major injury concerns for Manchester City after asking to be substituted during Norway’s Nations League clash with Portugal.
The prolific forward gestured to the dugout to request a substitution, with Jørgen Strand Larsen taking his place after 67 minutes of the encounter in Porto.
Before his departure from the pitch, the forward was spotted limping, which immediately raised alarms regarding his fitness ahead of a massive domestic fixture.
The match ended in a 2-1 defeat for Norway, leaving them at the bottom of Group A4, but the primary concern for City fans is the health of their star striker.
There was no official confirmation regarding the exact status of the forward’s fitness after the game, leaving fans and club staff waiting for updates.
Solbakken reveals workload concerns
Norway manager Ståle Solbakken spoke about the forward’s physical state after the final whistle, explaining that a discussion had taken place regarding the player’s fatigue.
The striker had played full matches in Norway’s opening three Nations League fixtures, which included a victory over Denmark alongside defeats to Wales and Portugal.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Solbakken said:
“He might have played the last 45 minutes against Portugal. That was a discussion. But he has very bad vibes and feelings about it.”
The manager stopped short of confirming a specific injury but pointed out the intense physical demands placed on the forward, who has featured heavily for both club and country.
Highlighting Haaland’s relentless schedule, Solbakken added:
“He plays pretty much everything on the club team.”
A massive week for Manchester City
This physical setback comes at a highly stressful time for Pep Guardiola’s side as they prepare to return to Premier League action.
City are scheduled to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, which will be their first game since being found guilty of breaching financial rules.
An independent commission recently found the club guilty of every rule breach, alleging the use of sham contracts to bypass regulations between 2009 and 2018.
Although City have lodged an appeal against the verdict, insisting they have an irrefutable body of evidence, the off-field drama continues to hang over the club.
The potential loss of their star forward only adds to the mounting pressure on the club during an incredibly turbulent period.
Striker shortage at the Etihad
Losing Haaland would be a devastating blow for Guardiola, as the Norwegian is the only senior, natural striker currently available in the City squad.
While he has already scored seven goals this season, he failed to find the net in his last two international appearances against Wales and Portugal.
Against Portugal, he dragged his best opportunity wide of the post before being taken off.
Norway had initially taken the lead through Kristoffer Ajer, but João Cancelo equalised before Gonçalo Ramos secured the victory for Portugal after Haaland’s exit.
City supporters will now face an anxious wait to see if their star man can recover in time for the crucial trip to Merseyside.
