Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Erling Haaland‘s doctors estimate he will be out between five and seven weeks.
The 24-year-old injured his ankle in City’s 2-1 FA Cup quarterfinal win against Bournemouth on Sunday, leaving the Vitality Stadium wearing a protective boot. He will see a specialist this week.
The Norway international scored City’s equaliser before going off in the 60th minute. His replacement, Omar Marmoush, scored the go-ahead goal to set up an FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest on April 26.
City are hopeful Haaland will be able to feature in the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off in June. But Guardiola said he will miss all but the final few weeks of the Premier League season.
“They told me the doctors between five to seven weeks. So hopefully the end of the season and by the Club World Cup he will be ready,” Guardiola said on Tuesday. “Sometimes there are years when these kinds of things happen. It happened all season.
“I would say that it could have been different if it was the end of the season [before the Club World Cup]. So with all the injuries we have had this season, I’m so sorry for them and for Erling as well. So [I wish him] a good recovery, as speedy as possible, then come back.”
Haaland, who has scored 30 goals in 40 games this season, looks set to miss Leicester City’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday and the trip to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s team has nine Premier League games remaining as it battles to keep hold of a top-four spot. City sit fifth in the table, one point behind Chelsea and one ahead of Newcastle United.
They kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Moroccan side Wydad AC on June 18.
