manchester city striker Erling Haaland has withdrawn from the Norway squad for its matches against Spain and Georgia due to injury, the Norwegian Football Association said on Tuesday.
Haaland suffered a groin problem during City’s 6-0 win over Burnley on Saturday. He joined the Norway team after the match, but after being assessed by medical staff, the 22-year-old returned to the Etihad for treatment.
– Broadcast on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (USA)
Sources have told ESPN that Haaland’s withdrawal from the Norway team is out of an abundance of caution and he is expected to be available for Liverpool’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on April 1.
Haaland was substituted after 63 minutes against Burnley and had already scored a hat trick to reach 42 goals for the season. He arrived just four days after he had scored five times in a 7-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig.
Haaland has scored six hat-tricks this season and has already broken the record for most goals by a City player in a single campaign.
Pep Guardiola’s side have a hectic schedule after the international break with nine games in three competitions in April.
They play Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League and the quarterfinals of the Champions League in two games against Bayern Munich. They also face an FA Cup semi-final against Championship team Sheffield United at Wembley.
City are still in the hunt for three trophies this season and Guardiola believes the games in April will decide how close they are to winning them all.
“Of course (April) is going to decide because we have an incredible February and March,” Guardiola said after the win over Burnley.
“Imagine if April is incredibly successful, May is going to be so important. As much as you go through the competitions, you are living the end of the season.”
“Once again, again, being in March and alive in the competitions, we have done very well. There is no secret.”
