Pep Guardiola confirms huge Erling Haaland injury blow | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed that striker Erling Haaland is expected to be out for between five and seven weeks with an ankle injury.

Haaland sustained the injury when he fell onto a concrete track running around the side of the Vitality Stadium pitch during Sunday's 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Bournemouth.

The Norwegian - who had scored City's equaliser earlier in the game - had to be substituted, and was later seen leaving the stadium in a protective boot.

And speaking on Tuesday ahead of his side's Premier League meeting with Leicester, Guardiola confirmed the club's top goalscorer will now be sidelined for a number of weeks.

"The doctors told me between five and seven weeks [out]," said Guardiola.

"So hopefully for the end of season and FIFA Club World Cup he will be ready.

"We don’t have another player with his [Erling Haaland's] skills or specific qualities we know that but we have to adapt.

"For many years, we've played with different ways up front and it depends on the qualities of the players. We’re going to find another solution."

January signing Omar Marmoush will likely play as a striker in Haaland's absence, as City aim to win the FA Cup and finish in the top four of the Premier League.

The reigning champions have nine Premier League fixtures remaining this season, plus an FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest on 26 April.

Their Club World Cup campaign gets under way when they face Moroccan side Wydad AC in Philadelphia on 18 June, with Haaland expected to be fit for the tournament.

📸 JUSTIN TALLIS - AFP or licensors