Erling Haaland is “ready” for Manchester City’s Premier League game with Burnley as Pep Guardiola dismissed concerns over the striker’s fitness.
The Norwegian came off after 76 minutes against Arsenal when he complained of pain in his back, having opened the scoring at the Emirates. Arsenal dominated proceedings however and escaped with a point as neither side made headway in the title race, drawing 1-1.
Haaland missed City’s 2-0 win at Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, with manager Guardiola fielding a much-changed team. Goals from Phil Foden and Savinho were enough to progress into the fourth round.
But Guardiola has declared that Haaland will be fit for Burnley’s visit to the Etihad on Saturday, as City hope to recover after a hit-and-miss start to the season. His side sit ninth in the top flight, eight points off leaders Liverpool.
“He is ready,” Guardiola said.
Having already complained of fatigue this week, Guardiola’s side face a busy couple of weeks before the international break, with Burnley on Saturday, a Champions League trip to Monaco next Wednesday and a Premier League meeting with Brentford that Sunday.
City are missing Mateo Kovacic, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush, with the trio expected to return in October, while right-winger Rayan Cherki is expected to be out until November with a thigh issue.
