Manchester City vs Tottenham: Will Erling Haaland play today against Spurs?

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As Manchester City prepare for their next encounter with Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday (February 26), questions linger about key striker Erling Haaland's fitness status. Haaland injured his knee during City's 4-0 triumph over Newcastle on February 15 and subsequently missed vital fixtures against Real Madrid and Liverpool.

The four-time reigning champion City trails Liverpool by 20 points with one game in hand. The team appears likely to surrender its crown and now battles merely to clinch a top-four position and Champions League qualification. Guardiola's squad currently holds fourth place on goal difference ahead of Newcastle and just two points clear of eighth-ranked Aston Villa.

In Tuesday's pre-match briefing, City boss Pep Guardiola shared an update on Haaland's status: "Tonight, we will know after training. I hope [he will be fit] but I don't know yet. He feels better but the last two games he could not play. We'll see tomorrow."

Haaland has joined recent practice sessions without visible discomfort, and medical scans haven't indicated any major injury. Footage shows Haaland moving freely during City's workout. Nevertheless, his starting position against Tottenham hinges on his evaluation following the final training session.
During Haaland's absence, City faltered in attack. They exited the Champions League after a 3-1 defeat to Madrid and then suffered a 2-0 home loss to Premier League frontrunner Liverpool, where they attempted 16 shots but managed to put only five on target.

Defensively, City confronts difficulties with essential defenders like John Stones and Manuel Akanji out injured. Ruben Dias, who entered as a substitute against Liverpool, is anticipated to start versus Tottenham.

Haaland, the league's top scorer for two consecutive seasons, has netted 27 goals across all competitions this season. This includes 19 league goals, which is six fewer than Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, the current scoring leader. Haaland's potential return could strengthen City's offensive capabilities as they strive to secure a top-four Premier League position.

Tottenham sits 12th after a challenging campaign under manager Ange Postecoglou, but has defeated City twice already this season - including a 4-0 thrashing in November. However, the Spurs are experiencing a revival with three straight league wins.

As both sides prepare for this pivotal match, the ultimate decision on Haaland's involvement will greatly affect Manchester City's approach and chances against an improving Tottenham team.