Noel Whelan

Mon 10 October 2022 7:00, UK

Noel Whelan has claimed he “can’t see a way to stop” Erling Haaland as his “frightening” Man City form continues.

The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed he “can’t remember” a “complete package” quite like the 22-year-old.

Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, speaking to The Telegraph (30 September), advised defenders to give Haaland space and avoid getting touch-tight to the Norweigan in the build-up to the Manchester derby.

Nevertheless, the former Dortmund hitman scored three and notched two assists as Man City put Man United to the sword in a 6-3 win on Sunday (2 October).

He followed up that performance with another two goals in a 45-minute display against Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday (5 October).

Haaland has now scored 19 goals in his first 12 outings for Man City since joining the club in the summer window.

Whelan backed the Premier League Golden Boot frontrunner to break “more and more records” with the Citizens.

He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “Absolutely not. Everyone is going to be worried about what he can do, and it doesn’t even matter if he’s out of the game.

“If you’re going to build a striker from scratch, you build a Haaland.

“He ticks every single box. The height, speed, movement, his link-up play, he can score with both feet.

“I just can’t see any way to stop him. I just see him breaking more and more records, quite frankly.

“He’s the perfect number nine. You can’t ask for a better player to slot into that Man City side.

“It’s quite frightening really because I can’t see a way for any side to stop him.

“If he gets on the run, he’ll beat you for pace. If you get up close, he’ll battle you with power. Balls into the box, he’ll beat you in the air.

“I can’t remember a striker being the complete package at such a tender age.”

In other news, pundit issues “massive” Aymeric Laporte claim after latest Man City development.