Why Erling Haaland is absent for Manchester City’s Premier League clash against Luton Town | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed the reason for Erling Haaland’s absence for Sunday’s trip to Luton Town.

The treble-winners will visit Kenilworth Road without star striker Erling Haaland, with the 23-year-old missing a Premier League match for the first time this season, despite featuring for the full 90 minutes against Aston Villa in midweek.

Haaland, who has scored 19 goals in 22 appearances for Manchester City so far this season, hasn’t scored in either of the Sky Blues’ previous two matches against Tottenham or Villa.

Manchester City are looking to close the gap to league leaders Liverpool with a victory over Luton on Sunday afternoon, as Pep Guardiola’s side look for their first Premier League win since early November.

The Blues have failed to win their last four league matches, suffering three successive draws prior to a dismal defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday evening, where Manchester City registered just two attempts.

Haaland’s absence from the Manchester City squad for Sunday’s clash against Luton was first revealed on Saturday evening, before confirmation of the forward’s absence by David Ornstein and Sam Lee of The Athletic.

The 23-year-old has suffered a stress fracture, and is also at risk of missing Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade and next weekend’s Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium.

Speaking ahead of kick-off at Kenilworth Road, Guardiola confirmed the reason for Haaland missing this weekend’s crucial fixture: “A bone stress reaction in his foot and after the last game he felt it.

“He cannot play… I don’t know [how long he’s out]. Week by week, day by day, we will see what happens.”