Manchester City have been battling some significant injury troubles across the team, with Pep Guardiola giving an update on Erling Haaland’s fitness situation after the Fulham game

The Premier League title race is heating up, as Manchester City applied pressure on Arsenal once again by picking up an important win in midweek action.

A first-half blitz from Pep Guardiola’s men saw them defeat Fulham, as goals from Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly, and Erling Haaland handed them victory at the Etihad Stadium.

With the gap at the top now down to just three points, it’s up to City’s title rivals Arsenal to respond, as they are in action on Thursday against an in-form Brentford side.

In the meantime, Guardiola will be keen to rally his troops once more, hopeful of avoiding injuries at a key time of the season when they can start to crank up the pressure on their rivals for the Premier League crown.

So, with that said, here’s a look at the latest City injury news, including an update on Haaland after the Fulham victory.

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Erling Haaland

City fans were left nervous over Haaland’s fitness after the goalscorer was substituted at half-time during his side’s win over Fulham.

Fortunately, Guardiola downplayed the issue after the match, as he told reporters: “Niggles. Some problems, he didn’t feel comfortable, it was 3-0.

“The reason why is too many games. Fatigue. He said ‘I don’t feel comfortable’. With 3-0 and with a lot of games and with having Omar [Marmoush], common sense.”

As a result, it’s unclear whether Haaland will feature against Salford in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, before City turn back to Premier League action against Newcastle the following weekend.

John Stones

After a spell out of the team through injury, John Stones finally made his return to the City squad again in midweek, featuring on the bench.

The defender was an unused substitute, while he could make an appearance against Salford in the FA Cup over the weekend.

Jeremy Doku

Jeremy Doku is still out through injury, having picked up a calf problem against Galatasaray in the Champions League earlier this season.

There is an expectation that he could return at some point this month, but it remains to be seen whether the recovery will meet that timeline.

Josko Gvardiol

City will be without Josko Gvardiol for the foreseeable future, with the defender picking up a tibial fracture in the clash with Chelsea.

There is hope that the Croatian international will be back at some point before the end of the season, with a few months left for him to make a return.

Savinho

Savinho has struggled to get going this season, having failed to get many minutes on the pitch with some proper momentum, as injuries continue to impact him.

The Brazilian winger was lined up for a possible return this week, but after failing to make the squad against Fulham, it’s unclear exactly when he will be available once again.

Mateo Kovacic

It’s been a tough campaign for Mateo Kovacic, who picked up an ankle problem in November, and has been unable to play for City ever since. A return seems unlikely until next month at the earliest.

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Pep Guardiola spoke about Erling Haaland after the Manchester City striker was replaced at half time during the Premier League game with Fulham

Pep Guardiola played down concerns over an injury to Erling Haaland after the Manchester City striker was taken off half way through their Premier League win over Fulham. Haaland scored City’s third shortly before the break but did not reappear for the second half, with Omar Marmoush coming on in his place at the interval.

Haaland had been taken out in the build-up to the second goal but played on before he was taken off and told the coaching staff that he didn’t feel right. With the lead they had and the rest that can lie ahead for the Norwegian, Guardiola and his medical staff decided the best thing to do was not to risk anything.

“Niggles. Some problems, he didn’t feel comfortable, it was 3-0,” said Guardiola. “The reason why is too many games. Fatigue. He said ‘I don’t feel comfortable’. With 3-0 and with a lot of games and with having Omar, common sense.”

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The Egyptian was unable to make much of an impact, with City failing to offer a threat in a game that petered out and finished 3-0. Guardiola though was delighted with the performance that sees the Blues move to within three points of Arsenal before the league leaders play Brentford on Thursday night.

Haaland’s goal against Fulham means he has scored in back to back Premier League matches having netted just once, from the penalty spot against Brighton, in his previous seven. He has 28 goals in all competitions for City this season.

City are in FA Cup action this weekend against League Two side Salford City, before a free midweek ahead of the visit of Newcastle United to the Etihad in the Premier League. A sparse February ends with a trip to Leeds in the Premier League at the end of the month before games in four competitions in March including the Carabao Cup final.

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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.

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