Manchester City striker Erling Braut Haaland was absent from team training on Thursday ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
The 22-year-old entered the international break in exceptional form after scoring eight goals in just two games against RB Leipzig and Burnley, taking his goal tally for the season to 42 after just 37 games across all competitions.
However, Haaland was forced to withdraw from the Norway squad earlier this month ahead of Euro 2024 qualifiers against Spain and Georgia after sustaining a groin injury in the FA Cup win over Burnley.
A statement from Norwegian team doctor Ola Sand read: "We hoped that this was just a familiarity that would carry over to Saturday, but after doing tests and examinations yesterday it became clear that he will not make it to the games against Spain and Georgia.
"It is better that he receives medical follow-up at the club."
Haaland's father revealed last week that the striker underwent examinations at a hospital in Barcelona and provided a pessimistic update regarding his fitness, stating that he is "touch and go" to recover in time for Saturday's clash with Liverpool.
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"Manchester City has a partnership with a hospital in Barcelona so he has been there for further checks and treatment," Alfe-Inge Haaland told Norwegian news outlet TV 2 Sport last Friday.
"He has been [in Marbella] for a couple of days with the physio from the club. Firstly, I'm not a doctor and secondly, I think it's 'touch and go', yes. You can't just go two weeks without training and then jump right into a fight. 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."
The vast majority of Pep Guardiola's squad reported back to training earlier this week following the international break, but Haaland was not pictured during an open session with his teammates at City Football Academy on Thursday.
❌ Erling Haaland 𝗡𝗢𝗧 spotted in Manchester City training pic.twitter.com/PcqKyLd8KD
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 30, 2023
The Manchester Evening News claims that there is a chance Haaland could have joined the group after the media's cameras had turned away or the Norwegian may have carried out exercises indoors.
Phil Foden was another to miss training as he recovers from appendix surgery, and the attacker could be sidelined for at least four weeks.
Despite missing Brazil's friendly defeat to Morocco last Saturday due to illness, goalkeeper Ederson returned to training on Wednesday and was fit to train again with his City teammates on Thursday.
Julian Alvarez was also seen in training and the Argentina international could be selected to start in attack against Liverpool if Haaland is not deemed fit to feature.
Man City will look to reduce the gap at the top of the table to five points with a victory over Liverpool, before league leaders Arsenal play host to Leeds United a few hours later.
Oliver Thomas
