Haaland back at City but still nursing a groin injury

ERLING HAALAND has returned to Manchester City to continue rehabilitation on a groin injury picked up last week.

The striker, who has scored 42 goals this season, joined Norway for their games against Spain and Georgia but left the camp ‘deeply frustrated’, according to manager Stale Solbakken.

He has been with City’s sports therapist Mario Pafundi as he checked in for medical tests in Barcelona before receiving treatment near the family’s property in Marbella. Pafundi accompanies the 22-year-old on international duty and the pair are believed to have flown back to the UK on Sunday.

City will carry out checks on Haaland before making a decision on his availability for Saturday’s clash with Liverpool at the Etihad, although the player’s father cast doubt over his inclusion.

‘You can’t just go two weeks without training and then jump right into a fight,’ Alfie Haaland said. ‘There must be a progression. It is about how he responds to treatment in the next few days.’ Phil Foden is facing up to six weeks out following surgery to remove his appendix as it is not advisable to take part in strenuous activity for more than a month. That would see Foden miss both Champions League quarter-final legs against Bayern Munich, up to seven Premier League games and the FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United.

Pep Guardiola could do without injuries to his biggest stars in the title run-in, with City eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal. Haaland will not be rushed and his problem carefully managed given he missed six weeks with a groin injury while at Borussia Dortmund last year.