Erling Haaland could return to Man City’s attack for visit of Fulham  

Erling Haaland could return for Manchester City‘s weekend clash with Fulham after Pep Guardiola said the striker’s foot injury is ‘much better’.

Guardiola wanted to see how the Norwegian, who has scored 22 goals already this season, performs in training on Friday before committing him to Saturday’s game at the Etihad Stadium.

Haaland has missed City’s last two games after being substituted at half-time during the goalless draw with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on October 25.

Erling Haaland has missed Manchester City’s last two games with a foot injury but could return

The striker went off at half-time during City’s Champions League game in Dortmund

The 22-year-old had been struggling with a bout of flu and also the foot problem, forcing him out of City’s 1-0 win at Leicester City and 3-1 victory over Sevilla.

Guardiola said: ‘He’s much better. We will decide today [if he can play against Fulham].

‘It’s a good step, he starts to train, and we have training this afternoon and we will see.’

Asked what factors will be taken into consideration, Guardiola added: ‘Himself, his opinion, the doctor’s opinion. If it’s 90 minutes or less we will see after training.’

Pep Guardiola said Haaland’s injury is ‘much better’ and he would be assessed in training

Fulham will no doubt be hoping Haaland, who has 17 Premier League and five Champions League goals so far, will still be sidelined.

Julian Alvarez has been deputising for Haaland, starting three games in a week, but Guardiola dismissed any concerns over tiredness.

‘He is young, he’s so young, at that age you can play every day,’ he said.

While England duo Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips remain sidelined, City have received a boost with Manuel Akanji back fit again.

City will have to contend with the physical presence of Aleksandar Mitrovic on Saturday

Guardiola was asked whether Haaland would be used in training to simulate the physical challenge City’s defenders will face from Aleksandar Mitrovic against Fulham.

He said: ‘We don’t have time, recovery yesterday, we’re tried. Some players who didn’t play will play tomorrow.

‘The players know [about Mitrovic], we have played them in then past. Long balls to Mitrovic, there’s a big guarantee we’ll lose the ball. Prepare for the second one.

‘Dangerous player, how many goals he scored last season? He’s scoring goals, natural, a competitor. He pushes defenders to limits and he’s clinical.’