Ben Dinnery

Thu 27 October 2022 7:00, UK

Man City would be taking a “big gamble” if they left Erling Haaland out of their starting XI.

That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.

Haaland was taken off at half-time as Man City drew 0-0 with his former side Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday (25 October).

Pep Guardiola told BT Sport after the game that the 22-year-old suffered a fever before kick-off and was also carrying a knock.

“It’s a big gamble if you are ever considering taking Erling Haaland out of your starting XI, particularly with how he’s been going this season,” Dinnery told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.

“In regards to that injury and that fever, as Pep referenced it, it’s still very early to say. These things can develop, you cannot categorically say yes or no with the fever because the body responds in different ways.

“Suffice to say, if he was a slight doubt going into the match and then they ultimately decided to give him minutes, that would indicate it’s not too serious at all.

“Unless it’s something that came on fairly suddenly. He might be eased away from the training ground on Wednesday (26 October). Ideally, you would want to see Haaland involved again on Friday (28 October).

“The foot injury itself, it seems it was more of a precautionary measure. Given that a draw would have seen both teams happily progress from the group stages.

“Factor in the fatigue issue and everything else that’s going on and it’s one where you make a decision and say ‘Let’s protect the player’.

“There are no guarantees with that. Even the most innocuous of injuries can develop in the next 24-48 hours.

“As it currently stands with the information that we have to hand, I’d be massively, massively surprised if Haaland was not in the matchday squad this weekend.”

In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed that Man City supporters have the “key” as the details of a “destructive” plot emerge.