“Absolute machine” – Jack Grealish pokes fun at himself in light-hearted Erling Haaland joke after latest goalscoring haul | OneFootball

Jack Grealish has poked fun at his own Premier League goalscoring record in a light-hearted joke following Erling Haaland’s latest haul of top-flight goals.

The Norway international has maintained his record of scoring in each of Manchester City’s Premier League games so far this season, taking his tally up to nine goals in the opening four matches for the club.

After back-to-back hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham followed an opening day goal against Chelsea, Erling Haaland netted a further two strikes to ensure that there would be no shock against Brentford, despite Yoane Wissa’s opener inside 30 seconds.

Many are already tipping Erling Haaland to oversee his best individual season in a Manchester City shirt, despite the remarkable totals of goals recorded in the Treble-winning campaign of 2022/23, and last season en route to a fourth successive Premier League title.

Speaking after the win over Brentford on Saturday afternoon, Jack Grealish was keen to praise the ongoing run of Haaland goalscoring performances across English top-flight matches, pointing out how it puts his own record in front of goal to shame.

“It’s unbelievable (playing alongside him). What is it, nine now this season,” Grealish said. “I think that’s more than my best tally I’ve ever had in the Premier League, and he’s done it after four games.”

The Manchester City forward continued, “He’s an unbelievable player, an unbelievable person, he gets everything that he deserves because he works so hard on and off the pitch. And he’s just an absolute machine in front of goal and I can’t speak highly enough of him.”

Haaland’s two goals came in light of a challenging week for the 24-year-old, after the passing of family friend Ivar Eggja. Jack Grealish offered his condolences to the family, before crediting the City striker for the mental strength shown to continue playing to such a high level.

Grealish said, “We all know that he’s had a difficult week, him and his family. I send all my love to them and like we say, it does speak volumes about him as a person and his mental strength to come out there today and perform like that and score two goals for us to get the win.

“I’m sure it’s everything that his family would have wanted, so I can’t speak highly enough of him.”

Erling Haaland will immediately refocus his goalscoring targets into the midweek challenge of Inter Milan’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, as UEFA Champions League football returns to the agenda.

The 24-year-old is on the cusp of breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of becoming the fastest player to score 100 goals for a single club, with the Portuguese football legend reaching the century mark after 105 appearances at Los Blancos.

Haaland currently sits on 99 goals for Manchester City after his 103rd appearance against Brentford at the weekend, and just one goal against the Italian giants this week will put his name into football history for a long time to come.