Pep Guardiola provides Erling Haaland injury update after Man City striker draws rare blank
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Erling Haaland will be assessed by Manchester City’s medical staff after the striker sustained a cut on his ankle during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle.
The champions looked on course for another victory when Josko Gvardiol broke the deadlock 10 minutes before half time with a smartly taken goal.
The home side rallied in the second half, however, and deservedly drew level from the spot when Antony Gordon, who had been brought down by Ederson to earn a penalty, kept his nerve to send City’s goalkeeper the wrong way from 12 yards.
Haaland has been in rampant form so far this season but drew a blank for the first time since the start of the new campaign and cut a frustrated figure for much of the second 45 minutes.
The Norway international’s movement did appear to have been hindered by a kick to the ankle with pictures captured by TNT Sports showing his sock was marked with blood.
Asked about Haaland’s condition after he was seen limping through the mixed zone after the game, Pep Guardiola confirmed his No.9 had ‘taken some knocks’ and would be assessed in ‘the next days’.
City face Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League in midweek before they entertain struggling Wolves prior to the two-week international break.
In what was City’s first game since confirmation of Rodri’s season-ending injury, Guardiola was keen to praise the performance of the midfielder’s who attempted to compensate for his absence.
‘Guys, I’m going to tell you, and I know you are going to ask me all the time; of course we are going to miss Rodri! Physicality, his presence, I know it,’ he said. ‘But he’s not there. “So I’m judging what [Mateo] Kovacic, and Rico [Lewis], and Bernardo [Silva] after, and the wingers with Jack [Grealish] how we have played.
‘And it was exceptional! “It’s simple. I know that; if we are going well, ah it’s because of no Rodri. I have to find solutions! We are going to find solutions! I would love Rodri to be here, and Oscar Bobb to be here, and Kevin [De Bruyne] to be here, and [Nathan] Ake to be here.
‘I would love it! “But it is what it is, because it’s 10 years playing 60, 70 games [per season] and the communication, and national teams.
‘And sometimes it happens. We have to adapt. And we adapted really well against a strong side, and I see my team, I recognise perfectly my team, and that’s all!’
