Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will be out of action for the next seven weeks, after suffering an ankle injury in a blow for the club.
The Norwegian picked up the injury during City’s 2-1 win away at Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday and was subbed off in the 61st minute.
“They told me the doctors say between five to seven weeks. So hopefully by the end of the season and by the Club World Cup he will be ready,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “Sometimes there are years when these kinds of things happen. It happened all season.”
City revealed on Monday that Haaland would see a specialist about the injury and anticipate he will be fit to play a further part in the remainder of this season including this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
24-year-old Haaland will be unavailable for six games including the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on April 26, though he could return in the Premier League tie against Southampton on May 10.
If he does miss up to seven weeks, Haaland would then be a doubt for the FA Cup Final on May 17 (if City qualify), but might be fit for the final PL game of the season away at Fulham (May 25), before the FIFA Club World Cup kicks off in the summer.
Haaland has scored 30 goals and provided four assists in all competitions this campaign