Erling Haaland Sidelined for Manchester City's FA Cup Encounter with Salford City
Manchester City will be without their prolific striker Erling Haaland for this weekend's FA Cup fourth-round fixture against Salford City. The Norwegian international, who has netted an impressive 29 goals across all competitions this season, was forced off at halftime during City's recent 3-0 Premier League victory over Fulham on Wednesday night.
Guardiola's Press Conference Reveals Injury Details
Speaking at his Friday press conference, manager Pep Guardiola addressed Haaland's absence from the squad list for Saturday afternoon's match at the Etihad Stadium. "Erling's not 100 percent but we'll see today how he feels," Guardiola stated. "It's not a big issue, the doctor said to me. But he had some disturbance before and during the game and that's why second half he didn't play. We will see his evolution."
The striker was replaced by Omar Marmoush during the Fulham match, and his exclusion from the FA Cup squad indicates City are taking a cautious approach with their star forward. Guardiola emphasized that the medical team does not consider the problem serious, but the club is monitoring his recovery closely.
Team News for Manchester City vs Salford City
Manchester City starting lineup: Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne, Stones, Cherki, Gonzalez, Ait-Nouri, Foden, Reijnders, Marmoush.
Substitutes: Donnarumma, Guehi, Rodri, McAidoo, Nunes, O'Reilly, Samba, Semenyo, Dias.
Salford City starting lineup: Young, Dorrington, Garbutt, Longelo, Cooper, Woodburn, Austerfield, Awe, Grant, N'Mai, Graydon.
Substitutes: Ashley, Borini, Butcher, Ehibhatiomhan, Howard, Siri, Stockton, Turton, Udoh.
Additional Squad Absences and Returns
Manchester City will also be without midfielder Bernardo Silva for the FA Cup tie, with Guardiola confirming the Portuguese international is "not fully fit." However, there is positive news regarding defender John Stones, who makes his first start since November after recovering from his own injury setback.
The club remains optimistic about Haaland's availability for their upcoming Premier League fixture against Newcastle United next Saturday. City's medical staff will continue to assess his condition throughout the week as they prepare for crucial matches in multiple competitions.
Context of Haaland's Season Performance
Haaland's 29-goal tally this campaign underscores his importance to Manchester City's attacking prowess. His absence against lower-league opposition Salford City represents a significant opportunity for other forwards in the squad to demonstrate their capabilities in knockout competition.
Guardiola's decision to rest both Haaland and Silva suggests strategic squad management as City compete on multiple fronts, balancing immediate cup commitments with longer-term Premier League and European ambitions.
