Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is 'hopeful' that Erling Haaland will be fit to play in Saturday lunchtime's top-of-the-table Premier League clash with Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
The 23-year-old was forced to withdraw from the Norway squad last weekend after sustaining an ankle/foot injury in a friendly against the Faroe Islands.
Norway team doctor Ola Sand admitted that Haaland was "in so much pain" but insisted that the striker's injury is "not serious".
Man City have since received a huge boost ahead of Saturday's showdown with Liverpool as Haaland was pictured in training with the first-team squad on Thursday evening.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Guardiola has revealed that Haaland has "some niggles" but he is optimistic that the striker can recover in time for the 12:30pm kickoff.
"[Haaland] trained yesterday with some niggles," said Guardiola. "Today we are in the last training, hopefully he can play a part."
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City's No.9 is enjoying another exceptional season in front of goal having scored 17 goals in 18 appearances across all competitions, including 13 strikes in just 12 Premier League games.
Haaland was one of five Citizens players who withdrew from international duty earlier this month due to injury along with Ederson, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Nathan Ake, while Rodri suffered with 'discomfort' which forced him to miss Spain's Euro 2024 qualifier against Cyprus.
While both Rodri and Ake appear to have recovered from injury after returning to first-team training on Thursday along with Haaland, it remains to be seen whether Ederson, Kovacic and Nunes will be fit to feature against Liverpool.
"We have a few problems like many clubs," Guardiola added. "We will see in our training session today. We will see. At 18:00 (UK) I will know for sure who is available."
There was no mention of defensive duo John Stones or Sergio Gomez at Guardiola's press conference, but both players are expected to remain sidelined with respective muscle and ankle injuries.
Kevin De Bruyne, meanwhile, is still recovering from a long-term hamstring injury and is not expected to return to first-team action until the New Year.
Premier League leaders Man City, who drew 4-4 with Chelsea two weeks ago and sit just one point clear of second-placed Liverpool, will be looking to return to winning ways and equal an all-time English top-flight record when they welcome the Reds to the Etihad this weekend.
Oliver Thomas
