Manchester City’s quest for a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title faces fresh uncertainty as star striker Erling Haaland remains sidelined ahead of their pivotal clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pep Guardiola’s side has steadied their campaign despite missing key players, securing an FA Cup final berth with a semifinal win over Nottingham Forest. While goalkeeper Ederson and defender Manuel Akanji recently returned to the bench, Haaland’s absence looms large.
The Norwegian forward, battling an ankle injury since March, has yet to rejoin team training—raising questions about his availability for the Wolves showdown.
Erling Haaland’s road to recovery
Haaland sustained the ankle injury during City’s March fixture against Bournemouth, and his recovery timeline remains fluid. Guardiola offered a tempered update last week:
“He feels better… but I don’t know when [he’ll return]. It’s not a comfortable injury. You have some twist in your ankle and then taping. He’s not a small guy, but he’s getting better step by step. Still, he doesn’t train with the team.”
Key Details:
Injury Specifics: The ankle issue has kept Erling Haaland out of team drills, though he’s progressing individually. Guardiola emphasized the discomfort of playing through taped injuries, particularly for a player of Haaland’s physical stature.
Training Status: No return date is set, but the club expects him back before the season concludes.
Wolves Match Outlook: With City set to face Wolves on May 4, Erling Haaland’s participation appears unlikely unless he miraculously resumes full training this week.
Manchester City’s stopgap solutions
In Haaland’s absence, Guardiola has leaned on Julián Álvarez and Phil Foden to spearhead the attack. The duo delivered in the FA Cup semifinal, but replicating that against Wolves’ defense—which has conceded the fourth-fewest goals in the league—will be tougher.
Why Haaland’s absence matters
City’s title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool will pounce on any slip-up. Haaland’s 28 goals in all competitions this season make him irreplaceable, and Álvarez’s four-game league scoring drought amplifies the urgency. Guardiola’s men have won just two of their last five league matches without Haaland, highlighting his gravitational pull in tight games.
With the title race razor-thin, Guardiola faces a dilemma: Rush Erling Haaland back and risk aggravating the injury, or trust his depth? For now, the latter seems likelier.