Erling Haaland misses a Premier League match for the first time (Picture: Shutterstock)
Pep Guardiola says Erling Haaland has not recovered from a ligament injury in time to play for Manchester City at Leicester on Saturday lunchtime.
The prolific forward came off at half-time during the Champions League draw with Borussia Dortmund in midweek and was facing a race against time to be fit for this weekend.
After the draw in Germany, Guardiola said of Haaland’s fitness: ‘Three things: I saw him so tired. The second one he had a bit of a fever. The third, he had a knock in his feet. That is why he wasn’t able to play in the second half.’
Asked if it was the same issues that Haaland was still struggling with on Saturday, the Manchester City boss said: ‘Recovery form the fever, from the tiredness, but not from the ligament.’
Haaland has started every Premier League game this season until this weekend, scoring 17 goals in 11 matches, while he has netted five times in his four Champions League appearances.
Julian Alvarez has been tasked with filling Haaland’s giant boots, getting only his second Premier League start since arriving from River Plate.
The 22-year-old started with Haaland in the 6-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the end of August, scoring twice in the rout.
He has not scored in the Premier League since, but did find the back of the net in the Champions League against FC Copenhagen earlier this month.
Guardiola will hope to have Haaland available again for the meeting with Sevilla at the Etihad on Wednesday, while City take on Fulham at home in their next Premier League game.
MORE : Pep Guardiola cannot confirm whether Erling Haaland will play for Manchester City at Leicester
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Haaland does not even make the bench at the King Power.