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Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Erling Haaland will be available for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Southampton.
The City striker, who has 42 goals this season including 28 in the Premier League, missed last week’s 4-1 victory over Liverpool as well as Norway’s two European Championship qualifers during the international break.
But Guardiola confirmed Haaland will be in the squad for the 17:30 (UK) kick-off at St Mary’s as City aim to extend its Premier League winning streak to five games and close the gap on leaders Arsenal who play on Sunday.
“He trained the last two days really good, he will be ready,” Guardiola said in his pre-match news conference.
Asked if he needed minutes to be considered for the Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, the boss added: “Bayern is our last thoughts it’s Southampton – the Premier League is every day, every week. Depends on that.”
Guardiola did not report any other injuries ahead of the game at St Mary’s although Phil Foden also missed the win over Liverpool after surgery following acute appendicitis.
Southampton are currently bottom of the Premier League but Guardiola is not expecting an easy game on the South Coast.
St Mary’s was where City secured a 100th point of the 2017/18 but it has been a difficult venue during Guardiola’s time with City knocked out of the Carabao Cup earlier in the campaign, while they were held to a 1-1 draw last season.
Since then Ruben Selles has taken over as coach and Guardiola believes that every side in the Premier League has something to play for.