Erling Haaland undergoes further treatment in race to be fit for Liverpool clash

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has undergone further treatment as he faces a race against time to be fit to face Liverpool this weekend.

The 22 year-old has been in sensational form under Pep Guardiola all season, but has been stopped in his tracks through injury after sustaining a groin problem during the 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Burnley.

That problem forced the Norway international to withdraw from commitments with his country during the most recent international break, instead visiting Manchester City’s partnership hospital in Barcelona and undergoing rehabilitation with a member of medical staff in Marbella.

Haaland returned to Manchester on Sunday evening to continue his rehab with the club, and has continued to undergo testing and checks from City medical staff.

However, the striker is yet to train with the rest of his teammates ahead of the weekend’s Premier League return, with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool the visitors to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Sky Sports News reported on Thursday morning that the former Borussia Dortmund and RB Salzburg man was missing from first-team training at the City Football Academy, while a new report has now outlined his routine away from the squad.

According to Jeremy Cross of the Daily Star, Erling Haaland underwent more treatment as part of his rehabilitation from a groin problem, and did some lighter work on his own within the City Football Academy centre itself.

Pep Guardiola is expected to provide a further update on the fitness of his star striker when he faces the media in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, and could clarify whether he will have Haaland at his disposal or not.

One player who will certainly be ruled out of action against the Merseyside club is Phil Foden, after the England international withdrew from Gareth Southgate’s squad early to undergo surgery in London on acute appendicitis.

Foden could be ruled out for up to six weeks based on NHS guidance, but cases are often dealt with on a patient-by-patient basis, and so further updates on the Manchester City forward’s recovery are expected in the coming days and weeks.

Ederson however, has returned to Manchester City training as normal this week, despite being ruled out of Brazil’s international matches with a stomach problem. Pep Guardiola’s number one choice between the sticks is expected to start against Liverpool this weekend.