Medical Insider issues Erling Haaland ‘relapse’ claim after Man City injury twist
Erling Haaland will only start for Man City if they are convinced he is fully fit.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Haaland has not featured for Man City since he was replaced at half-time during his side’s 0-0 draw with Borussia Dortmund last week (25 October).
The 22-year-old was carrying a knock and had also suffered a fever prior to kick-off.
As quoted by BBC Sport earlier this week (1 November), Pep Guardiola revealed his star man could return against Fulham on Saturday (5 October).
“Erling Haaland had some well-documented injury concerns at Borussia Dortmund,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“These are the types of players who are in the frame or not. You are not taking risks with these types of players unnecessarily.
“The initial discussions with Haaland after the Champions League game last week was that he could have been pushing for the Leicester game.
“With the quick turnaround for the lunchtime kick-off and the fact that injuries evolve and can be more serious than first thought, you then factor in fatigue and the fever, it was going to be a risk.
“If Erling Haaland was to feature against Fulham this weekend it would be if he was fully fit and they were confident there wasn’t going to be any kind of relapse or reaction.
“Regardless of what you think about the title race and teams falling away, Man City are still second to Arsenal. Even points dropped at this stage of the season can impact on final positions. They will want to go out there and get three points.
“If Haaland is available and it’s not going to be risk, then yes, he starts.”
In other news, Man City have set their sights on signing another Bundesliga sensation after a big development this month.