Erling Haaland offers Man City injury update ahead of title run-in

Erling Haaland is 'itching' to start for Manchester City in their final five fixtures of the season, dismissing any potential concerns raised by Pep Guardiola over his fitness.

Haaland asked to be substituted after 90 minutes of City's Champions League quarter-final exit to Real Madrid on penalties, missing the following two games with a minor muscle complaint. The striker returned to the squad against Nottingham Forest on Sunday but started on the bench - before coming on in the second half to score the vital second goal that secured the three points.

After the game Guardiola confirmed Haaland's place on the bench was a fitness-related decision, raising doubts over his condition. But Haaland himself has now declared himself fully fit and ready to go.

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“I’m ready – I had a bit of a problem and it’s not nice to bounce back when we went out to Madrid in the Champions League," he said. "It’s been scratching inside of me to get back and now I’m back and feeling good. I’m ready to attack the last five finals.”

And Haaland is delighted to be in the middle of another exciting title race against Arsenal, saying: “It’s nice – exactly like last season. This is maybe the most exciting time to be a footballer.

"There’s not many who can relate but this is why I play football – the feeling before the game, you’re a bit nervous. This is fantastic and it’s why I love football because of these feelings.

“So many of these guys have done it before and it’s about keeping the head calm and not wanting too much. We relax,