By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is in contention to start against Southampton this weekend, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.
Haaland had been sidelined since March after sustaining an ankle injury in his side’s FA Cup tie against Bournemouth.
Speaking before his side’s trip to Southampton on Saturday, Guardiola said on Haaland’s availability: “He is ready, he is fit. [If he will] start, we will see tomorrow.”
“Rodri is still not available. Oscar [Bobb] and Nathan [Ake] started training with us partially but they are still not available.”
The battle for Champions League qualification via a top five finish is set to go down to the wire.
“There are six or seven teams who can qualify so we have to make our points and if we make three victories we will be there.
“It is in our hands. We don’t need to wait on anything else. Win one game, then the next one and the next one.”
City are third in the table, three points above sixth-placed Nottingham Forest, as clubs battle to earn one of the top-five positions which this season offer Champions League football.
After facing Southampton, Guardiola’s side face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley on 17 May, before completing their league campaign with games against Bournemouth and Fulham.