Erling Haaland is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up an ankle injury against Bournemouth.
The Manchester City number nine was forced off in the second-half against the Cherries on Sunday, having scored an equaliser in the game.
Erling Haaland was pictured leaving the Vitality Stadium on crutches and wearing a protective boot, so fans did fear the worst.
Yesterday evening, City provided an update on Haaland via a statement on their official website.
It read: “The Norwegian striker sustained the injury during Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final victory away at AFC Bournemouth.
“Erling underwent initial tests in Manchester on Monday morning and will now seek specialist consultation to confirm the full extent of the injury.
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“Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain a full prognosis. The expectation is that Erling will be fit in time to play a further part in the remainder of this season, including this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.”
The tone doesn’t sound particularly encouraging, so City could well be without their main man for several weeks.
It is interesting to think about how Pep Guardiola will cover his absence – and there’s one player this development may now hand a lifeline to.
Jack Grealish may have new opening at Man City after Erling Haaland injury
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Guardiola will now need someone else to play through the middle with Haaland unavailable.
And everything points towards Omar Marmoush being that player. Man City fans have already tipped Marmoush to replace Haaland, believing the Egyptian is the perfect and natural choice.
The January signing from Eintracht Frankfurt has played several times on the left side for City so far.
But it makes the most sense for him to replace Haaland directly, given he was playing almost exclusively through the middle at Eintracht.
And so, this could potentially create a bit of an opening for Jack Grealish – a player who has struggled for opportunities this season and in 2025.
This calendar year, Grealish has not started a single Premier League game, making just three appearances off the bench.
He has started three of City’s four FA Cup games so far, but undoubtedly he’ll be wishing he could be playing more.
With Marmoush now likely to shift inside, that is one less direct rival for him out on the left.
Guardiola tends to play Savinho on the right, so Grealish – who’s previously been branded ‘really special’ by Declan Rice – would potentially only be fighting it out with Jeremy Doku.
Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Oscar Bobb is returning from injury, but he’s mainly played from the right side and centrally. Even if Guardiola seens him as an option for the left, it’s possible he could be used sparingly between now and the end of the season given his lack of match sharpness.
So the onus is on Grealish to now nail down that position.
What Pep Guardiola said about Jack Grealish amid doubts over Man City future
As a result of Grealish’s struggles at City lately, there has been speculation about his future.
Grealish is said to be very happy at Man City, however the club would not stand in his way if he pushes to go and the club’s valuation is met.
AC Milan have been linked with Grealish in recent weeks, as have the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.
Ahead of the game with Bournemouth, Guardiola wouldn’t be drawn too much on Grealish’s future, saying: “I am not going to talk individually about what happens in the future.
“The future is Bournemouth and then Leicester. I’m sorry, I’m not involved. When we don’t have any titles to fight for I can understand completely and they [the players] can do it privately with the club.”
It remains to be seen how Grealish will fare over the next two months or so. But if he is keen to stay, as has been claimed, then he’ll need to make the most of Haaland’s injury absence.