Pep Guardiola confirms new Erling Haaland injury setback for Man City

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Erling Haaland may not be back until February after the Manchester City striker suffered a setback. Haaland has not trained this week on the advice of doctors as he attempts to work back from a stress injury in his foot, with the hope that he can start back with the group next week in Abu Dhabi with a target to return by the end of the month.

City are away to Spurs in the FA Cup on Friday January 26 before taking on Burnley at home on Wednesday January 31. Even if the Norwegian is able to feature in either of those matches, he will already have missed more matches this season than last year.

Newcastle will be the ninth consecutive game this season he hasn't been available for and he has missed ten in total, compared to just three last year on top of five unused substitute appearances. ALSO READ: 'Are they even happy with me?' Nathan Ake interview on what makes Man City so good ALSO READ: Man City captains called player meeting to halt Premier League slump Guardiola spoke well of how Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez have impressed in the interim, with both men in form in the City attack.

However, the manager could not sugarcoat Haaland's absence. "A little bit of disturbing problems in his feet. It’s fine," said Guardiola. "The doctors decided to stop for one week and maybe restart in Abu Dhabi. "Hopefully at the end of this month he’ll be ready.