Man City injury news: Pep Guardiola gives Erling Haaland update as Ruben Dias absence explained

Pep Guardiola has said he hopes Erling Haaland will be back in January as the striker missed another Premier League game.

The striker was not named in the Manchester City squad for Wednesday’s trip to Everton, with Julian Alvarez selected up top for the world champions. Haaland is, therefore, a major doubt for this weekend’s game against Sheffield United.

Pep Guardiola also seemed to imply Haaland will miss the game. “Still he’s not with the team,” the City boss told Amazon ahead of the Everton clash. “He feels better but he hasn’t made one training session with us. Hopefully in January he can come back with us.”

Haaland’s absence with a foot injury has now extended to five games, with the Norwegian missing the matches against Luton Town and Crystal Palace earlier this month, as well as both games in Saudi Arabia during the Club World Cup.

After the Sheffield United game, City then face Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup - a match Haaland is unlikely to be rushed back for - before the Premier League trip to Newcastle United on 13 January.

The ex-Borussia Dortmund star wasn’t the only absentee at Goodison Park. Jermey Doku also missed the match and hasn’t played since the draw against Tottenham Hotspur on 3 December due to a muscular injury.

Ruben Dias was a surprise omission on Merseyside, with the Portugal defender missing out due to illness. Kevin De Bruyne returned to training during the Club World Cup but won’t be back until next month.