Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is in contention to make his return to the starting lineup against Southampton this weekend, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed on Friday. The Norwegian forward has recovered from an ankle injury that sidelined him for nearly six weeks.
Haaland, who has scored 21 goals in the Premier League this season, was once leading the race for the Golden Boot. However, he now trails Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (28 goals) and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak (23 goals).
City currently sit third in the league standings with three matches remaining. They are three points behind second-placed Arsenal and one point ahead of Newcastle.
“Haaland is ready and fit. Whether he starts, we’ll decide on Saturday,” Guardiola told reporters. “Rodri is still unavailable. Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake have returned to training but are not yet fit to play.”
Southampton, rooted to the bottom of the table with just 11 points and only two wins all season, have already been relegated. Despite their position, Guardiola is not underestimating the challenge, as City aim to secure a Champions League spot amidst pressure from Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa.
