Haaland Ready To Make Comeback Against Southampton, Says Guardiola

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Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is set to make a comeback from an ankle injury, as confirmed by manager Pep Guardiola. The 24-year-old has been out since March following an injury during City's FA Cup match against Bournemouth. Recently, he returned to the squad and was on the bench during City's 1-0 victory over Wolves but did not play.

Haaland's return is crucial for Manchester City as they aim to secure a spot in the Champions League. They currently sit third in the Premier League standings, three points ahead of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest, with three games left. After their upcoming match against Southampton, City will face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 17.

In his last Premier League appearance against Brighton on March 15, Haaland scored an early penalty, marking his 100th goal involvement in the league (84 goals and 16 assists). He achieved this milestone faster than any other player in Premier League history, doing so in just 94 matches.

This season, Haaland has netted 21 goals in 28 Premier League games. He joins Ruud van Nistelrooy as one of only two players to score over 20 goals in each of their first three Premier League seasons. Despite his injury setback, Haaland remains City's top scorer with double figures in the league and has scored 30 goals across all competitions this season.

Pep Guardiola confirmed Haaland's readiness for the weekend clash with Southampton but did not specify if he would start. "He is ready, he is fit," Guardiola stated. "If he will start, we will see tomorrow." This decision comes at a pivotal time as City continues their push for Champions League qualification.

Reflections on a Challenging Season

In a recent ESPN interview, Haaland reflected on the team's challenging season. He attributed their struggles to a lack of intensity after winning four consecutive league titles. "You can find excuses, injuries, many injuries at bad times," said Haaland. "But in the end, we haven't been performing well enough."

When asked about Haaland's comments regarding team performance, Guardiola responded: "If it's a feeling for Erling, the players should talk to each other and ask themselves why." Despite being sidelined due to injury, Haaland remains City's sole player with double-digit league goals and has won the Premier League Golden Boot twice since joining Manchester.

Haaland trails Liverpool's Mohamed Salah by seven goals for this season's Golden Boot with only three matches left. His return could be vital for City's aspirations both domestically and in Europe as they approach these decisive fixtures.