Erling Haaland returns to Manchester City to continue rehabilitation ahead of Liverpool clash

Manchester City have welcomed back Erling Haaland this week as the Norwegian continues his rehabilitation ahead of the clash against Liverpool.

The 22 year-old withdrew from international duties with Norway last week after tests with the international side’s medical team indicated a groin injury had been sustained against Burnley in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Haaland scored a hat-trick against Vincent Kompany’s high-flying Championship outfit, following on from a five-goal haul just days prior in the UEFA Champions League last-16 second-leg against RB Leipzig.

However, the problem picked up against Burnley has now cast doubt on Erling Haaland’s availability for Manchester City’s upcoming Premier League clash against Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime.

Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola’s star striker has now returned to Manchester, after spending time at City’s partnership hospital in Barcelona, and at his holiday home in Marbella – where he was accompanied by a member of the Etihad club’s medical staff, Mario Pafundi.

That is according to the information of Paul Hirst of The Times, who reports that Manchester City will now conduct tests on Erling Haaland’s groin injury this week to establish whether he will be available to play against Jurgen Klopp’s side on Saturday.

City Xtra understand that Haaland arrived back in Manchester on Sunday evening, with his private jet landing at the city’s international airport just before 7PM local time.

Erling Haaland’s father has already cast doubt on his son’s availability for the weekend’s mammoth Premier League clash, having spoken to Norwegian media during the international break on the injury problem.

“Firstly, I’m not a doctor and secondly, I think it’s ‘touch and go’ (for Liverpool), yes,” Alfie Haaland told reporters. “You can’t just go two weeks without training and then jump right into a fight.”

He continued, “There must be a progression there. They can gamble on it, but if he doesn’t get proper training with the team, then he won’t play… It is about how he responds to treatment in the next few days.

“He needs a lot of care and ‘knuckling’. There are many sprints and there is a lot to move.”