Manchester City forward Erling Haaland will skip their Champions League clash with Sevilla on Wednesday as a precaution after the Norwegian did not play in Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League victory at Leicester City due to injury, manager Pep Guardiola said.
Haaland, who has 22 goals in all competitions this season, was substituted in the second half of City’s goalless Champions League draw at his former side Borussia Dortmund last Tuesday after sustaining a knock.
Guardiola said he would not take a risk with his leading goalscorer when they host Sevilla in Europe’s top-tier club competition as they have already qualified for the knockout stage.
“I don’t know,” Guardiola told BBC, when asked about Haaland’s potential return date. “He has ligament damage. He feels better, we have one more week.
“He won’t play against Sevilla, because we have already qualified and hopefully against Fulham (on Saturday) he can help us. If not, he might play against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup (on November 9).”
City lacked a cutting edge in the opening half at Leicester but a stunning free-kick from Kevin De Bruyne sealed the win.
Cup dreams
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said striker Callum Wilson is “desperate” to fulfil his dream of playing at the World Cup after scoring twice in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa with England boss Gareth Southgate watching on.
Wilson has four caps for England and has not played for them since 2019, but the former Bournemouth forward has improved his chances of a recall to the national team for the tournament in Qatar starting November 20 since moving to Newcastle in 2020.
After netting a penalty in first-half stoppage time, Wilson nodded in his second in the 56th minute and set up a goal for Miguel Almiron, before hitting the crossbar with another header.
“I’m really pleased for Callum. I’m not too aware what the players know and what they don’t know about who comes and who’s watching. I think it’s better, you play your normal game and you’re not over-thinking,” Howe told reporters.
“Callum is desperate to be involved with England, it’s one of his childhood dreams, so he will be really pleased that he played so well. He scored the two goals and his overall performance was very good.”
Having returned to the Newcastle squad at the beginning of October following a month out due to a thigh injury, Wilson has scored three goals to take his tally this season to six from nine games.
Newcastle great Alan Shearer said Wilson’s qualities made him the right candidate to back up first-choice England striker Harry Kane. “If Callum is fit, he should be the one because he offers that run in behind,” Shearer told BBC.
