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Haaland on bench for Man City as striker returns ahead of schedule / Photo: © AFP
NYSE - LSE
Haaland on bench for Man City as striker returns ahead of schedule
Pep Guardiola sprang a surprise as Erling Haaland returned from injury to feature among Manchester City's substitutes for Friday's Premier League clash against Wolves.
Guardiola had said on Thursday that Haaland was not ready to return to action despite stepping up his recovery from the ankle injury he suffered against Bournemouth in March.
The Norway striker resumed full training this week, but Guardiola had said only that he would play in the "next games", rather than the Wolves match specifically.
Haaland had missed City's last six games since sustaining the injury during the FA Cup quarter-final win at the Vitality Stadium.
With 30 goals in all competitions this season, Haaland's presence is a huge boost for City as they look to salvage a dismal season by qualifying for the Champions League via a top five finish in the Premier League.
Haaland will also be in contention to feature in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace at Wembley on May 17.
"He's getting better. The injury was for six weeks and now he's between weeks four and five," Guardiola had said on Thursday.
"The injury is not easy. Syndesmosis (problems) are tricky, tricky injuries but he's making partial training and on Wednesday he was almost fully training.
"So, he's getting better. Hopefully in the next games he can be there."
O.Anderson--SFF
