- Haaland missed Man City’s victories over Luton Town and Red Star Belgrade
- Guardiola addressed the Norwegian’s fitness ahead of their game on Sunday
- Man City MUST win before going to ‘pointless FIFA jamboree’ – It’s All Kicking Off
Fantasy Premier League managers have been left with a decision to make after Pep Guardiola gave an update on Erling Haaland’s injury status.
The Norwegian striker missed last week’s clash with Luton with a foot injury and FPL managers would have been hoping the striker who is almost guaranteed to provide teams points would return against Crystal Palace.
However, Guardiola ahead of Saturday’s match at the Etihad said he doesn’t expect Haaland to feature but added that maybe the Norwegian can ‘surprise’ him.
So FPL managers have a choice on whether to drop Haaland, and if so, who they should bring in to replace him.
With that in mind, Mail Sport recommends that the Norwegian striker be dropped from teams this weekend.
Erling Haaland looks unlikely to feature for Manchester City’s clash against Crystal Palace
Pep Guardiola though did add that maybe Man City’s star striker could ‘surprise’ him
Haaland appears unlikely to start tomorrow and also wouldn’t pick up any points in GW18 due to City’s participation in the Club World Cup.
There are two standout replacements who could come in to replace the Man City striker, in the form of Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Bournemouth star Dominic Solanke.
Watkins failed to score in hard fought 1-0 victories over Arsenal and Man City, but scored in each of Villa’s three prior games against Fulham, Tottenham and Bournemouth.
He is the second highest scoring forward in terms of points so far this season – with 99 compared to Haaland’s 112.
Villa also have winnable fixtures with an away trip to Brentford on Sunday followed by a home clash with Sheffield United in GW18.
Solanke meanwhile has netted four goals in his last five games and is a cheaper option than Watkins at £6.7m compared to the Aston Villa star’s £8.5m.
He has 73 points this season, and the Cherries play two relegation candidates in upcoming weeks in the form of Luton Town at home on Saturday and Nottingham Forest away next week.
Both Solanke or Watkins could fill the void left by Haaland, at least until the Norwegian striker returns to Premier League action.
Haaland has been in exceptional form for Manchester City so far during the 2023-24 season
Ollie Watkins could be a player FPL managers look to fill the void left by Haaland
Guardiola, speaking about Haaland in his press conference, said: ‘He arrived today and he will see the doctors and then we will see.
‘He has had treatment. Hopefully he can travel to Saudi, tomorrow after the game (for the Club World Cup) and we will see if he plays the first game or second (in Saudi).
‘I don’t think he will be ready to play this weekend, maybe he surprises me.
‘It’s not a fracture just a stress. Sometimes players recover quickly, longer. Day by day, week by week, how he feels. The moment he doesn’t have pain he will play.’