Haaland’s Injury Blow: How Manchester City Will Cope Without Their Star Striker

Haaland Faces Lengthy Spell on the Sidelines

Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s prolific Norwegian striker, is set to miss several crucial matches after suffering an ankle injury during the FA Cup quarter-final victory over Bournemouth. According to Pep Guardiola, the striker could be sidelined for up to seven weeks, casting serious doubt over his availability for the remainder of the domestic campaign.

While Guardiola remains hopeful that Haaland will return in time for the FIFA Club World Cup in June, the impact of his absence on City’s immediate objectives—particularly their Premier League top-four ambitions and the FA Cup—cannot be overstated.

From Treble Hero to Spectator: Haaland’s Shift in Role

Haaland’s first season in England was nothing short of sensational—he netted a record-breaking 36 goals in the Premier League and led City to a historic treble. In his second campaign, although he retained the Golden Boot, his numbers slightly dipped. And now, with this latest injury, it seems increasingly likely that Mohamed Salah will snatch the top scorer accolade for the 2024/25 season. The Liverpool forward currently holds a six-goal lead, a gap that may prove insurmountable for the sidelined Haaland.

Salah is poised to become only the second player in Premier League history to win four Golden Boots, following in Thierry Henry’s footsteps.

The Matches Haaland Is Expected to Miss

Haaland’s injury comes at a critical juncture. Manchester City are in a tight race to secure Champions League qualification. While a top-five finish may suffice due to coefficient adjustments, every match counts—and City now face a challenging stretch without their main goal threat.

Here’s a list of fixtures Haaland is likely to miss:

• April 2 – vs Leicester City (Home) – Premier League
• April 6 – vs Manchester United (Away) – Premier League
• April 12 – vs Crystal Palace (Home) – Premier League
• April 19 – vs Everton (Away) – Premier League
• April 26 – vs Nottingham Forest (Neutral) – FA Cup Semi-final
• May 2 – vs Wolves (Home) – Premier League
• May 10 – vs Southampton (Away) – Premier League
• May 17/18 – vs Bournemouth (Home) or FA Cup Final

With Crystal Palace and Everton both in strong form, these matches are far from straightforward. City’s previous encounter with Nottingham Forest ended in a 1-0 defeat even with Haaland on the pitch, highlighting the unpredictability of their run-in.

Looking Ahead to the Club World Cup

Despite his expected absence for the rest of the domestic season, Guardiola is confident that Haaland will be fit for the FIFA Club World Cup, set to kick off in the United States on June 15. City begin their campaign on June 18 against Wydad AC, followed by matches against Al Ain (June 23) and Juventus (June 26).

This tournament, featuring 32 teams for the first time, represents a major opportunity for City to add another prestigious title to their growing collection—and for Haaland to return in time to make his mark on a global stage.

Can Manchester City Thrive Without Their Goal Machine?

Without Haaland, City must look to Julian Alvarez, Phil Foden, and Kevin De Bruyne to step up their attacking output. Alvarez, in particular, has shown he can deliver when given a central role. But will it be enough in crunch moments, especially with the Manchester Derby and a potential FA Cup final on the horizon?

Do you think Manchester City can maintain their momentum without Haaland leading the line?