Haaland, Ederson, Stones – Man City injury news and return dates ahead of Tottenham
The latest Man City news as Pep Guardiola has given the latest update on his squad ahead of the FA Cup fourth round against Spurs.
Manchester City are back in FA Cup action on Friday night as they take on Tottenham in the fourth round of the competition.
City overcame Championship opposition in Huddersfield Town in the last round to book an evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Ahead of the game, Pep Guardiola has been given a major boost with the news that Erling Haaland is closing in on a return.
The Man City boss has revealed that the clash vs Tottenham will come too soon for the Norwegian to be included in the squad. But two players in John Stones and Ederson could make their return.
With that in mind, here is the latest injury news from the treatment room at the Etihad Stadium. Included are the dates on which they could make their comebacks.
Manuel Akanji
Injury: Leg
Possible return date: February
What we know: The centre-back limped off in the first half of the FA Cup third round clash against Huddersfield earlier this month. There has been no time-frame put on his return but it has been confirmed that he won’t be available for the FA Cup clash vs Tottenham.
Ederson
Injury: Unspecified
Possible return date: vs Tottenham (January 26)
What we know: Ederson was forced off in the opening exchanges of the Premier League clash against Newcastle United earlier this month. He is however expected to be fit to feature against Tottenham after shaking off the problem.
John Stones
Injury: Ankle
Possible return date: vs Tottenham (January 26)
What we know: The defender has missed the last four league matches after picking up the injury against Everton last month. He has however now returned to training and is expected to be available for selection against Tottenham in what is a big boost for Guardiola.
Erling Haaland
Injury: Foot
Possible return date: vs Burnley (January 31)
What we know: Haaland hasn’t played since suffering a foot injury at the start of last month. He has now returned to training. The clash against Tottenham does however come slightly too soon for the striker.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Guardiola revealed the extent of the injury: “It was a bone. We thought it was a bit less but in the end it was a little bit of a fracture of the bone and the bone is not a muscular issue that you can do a little bit (of work) and come back,” he said.
“When you have this injury it’s a question of time, people say six to eight weeks, it is six to eight weeks. It is not about how much you work or whether you go to Abu Dhabi or not.
“The bone needs time to close, to make his procedure and now it’s at the end, it will be eight weeks now, almost two months this or next weekend, in the process he feels good and now he needs time to take the rhythm and start to give him minutes when he will be fit.”