Erling Haaland is likely to miss the majority of the Premier League run-in with an ankle injury in a blow to Manchester City’s hopes of securing Champions League qualification.
The Norway striker left the Vitality Stadium on crutches on Sunday night after scoring in City’s 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Bournemouth.
After initial tests in Manchester on Monday morning, Haaland will now see a specialist to determine the full extent of the injury that will result in an extended period on the sidelines.
BREAKING: Erling Haaland left Bournemouth with his left foot/ankle in a protective boot following the injury sustained in the second-half.
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City said they expected Haaland to return in time to play a part in the remainder of the season, including the Club World Cup which starts in the United States in June.
Pep Guardiola’s side are currently fifth in the Premier League and face second-bottom Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
The top five will likely qualify for the Champions League this season, with England on course to be awarded an additional spot in Europe’s premier club competition by Uefa.
Nonetheless, Haaland’s absence is a set-back and will place an added burden on Egypt forward Omar Marmoush, who has settled in quickly since his £59 million signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in January.
As well as Leicester, Haaland will miss Sunday’s trip to Manchester United in the derby as well as a number of other Premier League games and the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
Haaland injured his left ankle in a challenge by Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook and was seen leaving Vitality Stadium on crutches with his left foot in a protective boot.
Analysis: ‘Lackadaisical’ Erling Haaland has a penalty problem
Erling Haaland was accused by Roy Keane of getting “very lackadaisical” from the penalty spot after failing to convert the third of his last six spot-kicks.
Bournemouth’s Kepa Arrizabalaga easily saved the Manchester City striker’s first-half effort in their FA Cup quarter-final after Haaland fired tamely within comfortable diving distance of the goalkeeper’s left side.
ITV footage cut to a shot of Oasis’s Noel Gallagher with his head in his hands in the stands.
Later Keane in the studio questioned whether the Norwegian was taking his responsibilities seriously enough. “Haaland missing a penalty, very lackadaisical, then he missed another chance and he’s smiling,” the former Manchester United captain said. “Man City strolling around the pitch are really getting on my nerves, not a good sign.”
City had been handed a penalty against Bournemouth after just 15 minutes when Tyler Adams handled inside the area. Haaland never looked convincing in placing the ball on the spot and his left-footed strike low to the right lacked venom.
The Norwegian later made amends by scoring the first of City’s two goals in a much-improved second-half performance on the south coast. But in this otherwise faltering season for City, Haaland’s record from the spot has been problematic.
Haaland has scored 49 times from the spot in total, with missed and saved efforts now counting eight. But this campaign – in which City have been knocked out of the Champions League and fallen out of the title race – is the first time he has had three efforts saved.
His previously missed penalties this season were against Sporting on November 5 in the Champions League – his effort struck the crossbar when, coincidentally, Gallagher was in the commentary box as a guest pundit with TNT Sport.
City lost that match 4-1 in Portugal and, during his commentary, Gallagher had questioned Haaland’s placement of the ball. Everton’s Jordan Pickford had the better of him on Boxing Day.
