Update: |Haaland, Akanji, Stones – Man City injury latest and return dates as four could return for run-in News

Manchester City injury news with Pep Guardiola’s side chasing Champions League qualification and an FA Cup victory in the closing weeks of the season

Manchester City will hope to have some of their injured stars back before the end of the season as they chase down their twin objective.

The Blues drew 0-0 at Manchester United on Sunday in the Premier League and remain fifth in the table, outside the automatic places for the Champions League. Indeed Pep Guardiola’s men will slip to sixth if Newcastle United beat Leicester City on Monday night.

City will hope to finish the season strongly and their cause could be aided by the return to fitness of some of their senior stars in the coming weeks. Here’s the latest from the Etihad treatment room.

Erling Haaland

Injury: Ankle

Haaland was assessed by City on Monday having been forced off in the FA Cup quarter final tie with Bournemouth. He faces a spell on the sidelines although the Blues did not provide a timescale for his return and are hopeful he will play again this term.

A City statement on Monday read: “Manchester City FC can confirm that Erling Haaland has suffered an injury to his left ankle. 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. 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.

“Everyone at the club wishes Erling a speedy recovery”

Possible return date: Unknown

Nathan Ake

Injury: Foot

The defender was forced off at half time against Plymouth in the last round of the FA Cup with another injury in a season of knocks and issues both for the Dutchman and the defence as a whole. Guardiola confirmed he would be out for up to 11 weeks after undergoing surgery on a foot injury.

“Ten to eleven weeks, they said. When it is surgery, it is pretty serious and something wrong happened,” Guardiola said of Ake. “He struggled a lot this season with the problems in his feet and it happened.”

Possible return date: vs Bournemouth (H) – Sunday, May 18

Rodri

Injury: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)

Rodri has been working hard on his recovery. Guardiola teased a possible return ahead of the FA Cup win over Plymouth and the midfielder was on the pitch at the Etihad going through a few drills.

He has taken part in an individual training session at the CFA but despite his ambitions to play again before the end of the season and Guardiola’s comments, a return is not thought to be imminent. The Club World Cup in June could be a possible target for his return.

Possible return date: May/June.

John Stones

Injury: Thigh

Stones was forced off after just eight minutes against Real Madrid earlier this year and it was feared he could require surgery and be sidelined for the rest of the season. But Guardiola offered a positive update recently and believes he could return before the end of the month.

Possible return date: April/May.

Manuel Akanji

Injury: Adductor

Akanji faces an extended spell on the sidelines after tearing his adductor muscle in the 3-2 defeat to Madrid at the Etihad Stadium. He was forced off at half-time and Guardiola anticipates he should return before the end of the month.

He said last month: “Eight to ten weeks out. His adductor is broken. We wish the best recovery for Manu because the effort he has done this season has been unbelievable.”

“He’s getting better,” Guardiola said of Akanji. “All of them I think, I don’t know about Nathan, but all of them will come before the end of the season.”

Possible return date: Late April