Erling Haaland returned to training on Tuesday but remains a fitness doubt for Manchester City’s trip to Tottenham on Wednesday after missing the last two games.
City’s top scorer sat out defeats against Real Madrid and Liverpool after jarring his knee in the 4-0 win over Newcastle on February 15 and his absence has been telling, with City struggling to turn their dominance of possession into chances in Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool.
A well-wrapped Haaland appeared on City’s training pitch on Tuesday, shortly after Pep Guardiola had indicated he was optimistic the 24-year-old will be available in north London on Wednesday night.
“Tonight, we will know it after training,” Guardiola said. “I hope so but I don’t know yet.
“He feels better but the last two games he could not play. We’ll see tomorrow.”
Haaland’s absence has left Omar Marmoush to lead the line, but the Egypt international has been unable to follow up his hat-trick against Newcastle.
Guardiola said he had been very happy with the impact made by Marmoush, as well as fellow January signings Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez.
“It has been really good for the short time they are training,” Guardiola said.
“Khusanov arrived and played against Chelsea, Orient, Newcastle, Madrid and Liverpool, so a tough and difficult schedule to come into in, with the lack of communication as he still doesn’t speak English fluently, so the impact is really good.
“Omar as well. Nico plays well but the impact is really good, we are satisfied. Of course Vitor (Reis), when he has minutes, he will always be in a good level.”
The four mid-season signings illustrated the scale of the rebuild that City have been forced into this season following a number of injuries and the dramatic
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