Erling Haaland STARTS for Man City against Southampton after six-week injury lay-off – as Pep Guardiola is handed major boost ahead of run-in

Erling Haaland returned to Manchester City‘s starting XI for their Premier League clash against Southampton on Saturday.

The Norwegian frontman has been prodigious in front of goal this season once again, with 21 strikes in 28 Premier League games, but has been missing for the past six weeks with an ankle injury.

The issue was sustained in Manchester City’s FA Cup win over Bournemouth at the end of March, which has led to Omar Marmoush often filling in for Haaland up front.

After being seen in crunches in the aftermath of that game, City fans were worried that their star man may not feature for the rest of the season. But after Haaland returned to training a couple of weeks ago, his come back was evidently imminent.

In Haaland’s absence, City have played seven games, winning an impressive six. Pep Guardiola‘s side only managed to drop points when they drew 0-0 at Manchester United at the start of April.

City come into their game against Southampton sat in third place and currently look on course to qualify for the Champions League next season – although the margins in the top-five race are razor thin.

Having sustained an injury at the end of March vs Bournemouth, Haaland has missed six weeks

In the Norwegian’s absence, City have fared excellently, winning six and drawing one game

Only four points separate City and Aston Villa in seventh, with Newcastle, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest also in the mix. 

After a comparatively lean patch of just three league goals in 13 games towards the end of last year, Haaland went on to rediscover his best form and scored eight in his last 10, along with a couple of assists, before sustaining his injury.

He also managed eight goals in a nine-game Champions League campaign that City will feel ended far too early for their liking, losing on aggregate to real Madrid in the Round of 16 play-offs in February.

A late push for a third straight Premier League Golden Boot award is unlikely, with Mohamed Salah leading the scoring charts on 28 goals – seven more than Haaland with three games to go.

City have a relatively favourable run-in for their final few games as Guardiola seeks to avoid missing out on Champions League football for the first time in his managerial career (excluding his inaugural season at Barcelona B).

The former champions face Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham in their last three Premier League fixtures.

However, City’s first two games are sandwiched in between a third straight trip to Wembley for the FA Cup final, as they face Crystal Palace next Saturday.

Guardiola’s side will be looking to avenge their 2-1 defeat in last year’s final at the hands of Man United.