Man City Injury Updates: Guardiola Provides Huge Updates on Haaland, Rodri - When Will They Return?

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Manchester City is set to take on Wolverhampton in a Premier League showdown at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on Friday (May 2). The upcoming fixtures, including this one, are highly significant for the reigning champions as their qualification for a European spot next season depends greatly on these matches.

Unlike previous seasons, City has encountered difficulties during this campaign, both domestically and in Europe. The approaching FA Cup final against Crystal Palace is their only remaining shot at silverware this year. Ongoing injury troubles have played a large role in City’s underwhelming form. However, the Sky Blues have received a double boost ahead of their encounter with Wolves.

In his pre-match press conference, City manager Pep Guardiola shared key updates on two of his core players, Erling Haaland and Rodri, while also speaking about his near-term plans. Guardiola announced the players’ return to training at the press conference. He stated, “We are really pleased Erling is back and Rodri is back in the training sessions.”

Manchester City has been handed a crucial dual injury boost as both Erling Haaland and Rodri have resumed training, although neither is expected to feature right away. With several vital games left in their Champions League qualification push, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed Haaland will miss tonight’s fixture against Wolves, while Rodri continues to progress in his recovery.

What Is Haaland’s Current Injury Status? When Can He Return?

Erling Haaland has remained on the sidelines since sustaining an ankle injury in City’s match versus AFC Bournemouth. Though the Norwegian forward has returned to the training ground, Guardiola indicated that he’s not yet match-ready.

“Tonight’s match against Wolves will come too soon for Erling,” Guardiola said in his media briefing. “We are really pleased Erling is back… in the training sessions.” Therefore, fans will have to wait a bit longer to watch the striker return to action.

Haaland’s comeback to training marks a positive step for the squad. Before getting injured, he had netted 21 goals in 28 league games this term. However, Guardiola stressed the importance of a full recovery before reintegrating the star into competitive matches.

Man City vs Wolves: Is Rodri Fit to Play in Today’s PL Game? Latest Update on Rodri’s Fitness

Rodri has long been the engine of City’s midfield. Yet, the Spanish defensive midfielder suffered a serious ACL injury during a match against Arsenal in September 2024, ruling him out for the rest of the season. Though the recovery process has been long and closely supervised, Guardiola suggested a return could soon happen.

“The moment the physio and doctor say that Rodri can start to play minutes, he will start to play minutes,” Guardiola said. “It was a difficult injury. It was seven months to eleven months (out of action), more or less, the doctors said.”

Even with the injury’s gravity, Rodri has been active in daily training and is said to be progressing well. Guardiola also noted, “He feels really good. Every day he’s making sessions, but we have to make the step to avoid him making a step backwards and being injured again.”

That approach shows City’s cautious management of a vital player who plays a central role in controlling games. Guardiola also mentioned, “That’s why you need to be careful. What is important is (he has) one training session and then another one, and every time he feels better and better.”

With just a few league fixtures left and the FA Cup final and FIFA Club World Cup coming soon, City’s hopes of a strong finish of this season and a smooth start in the CWC 2025 may depend on the careful reintroduction of the Haaland and Rodri. Guardiola and his staff are taking no risks, but their return could be perfectly timed.