Haaland, Doku, De Bruyne - Man City injury news and return dates ahead of Club World Cup clash vs Urawa Red Diamonds
Manchester City face Urawa Red Diamonds in Tuesday's semi-final before a potential Friday final against Brazilian outfit Fluminese.
Manchester City will compete in their first-ever Club World Cup this week and kick-off with a semi-final clash against Urawa Red Diamonds this evening.
Pep Guardiola's side will walk out at the King Abdullah Sports City looking to book their place in Friday's final. Brazilian side Fluminese beat Al Ahly of Egypt 2-0 last night, securing their place.
Having flown out to Jeddah immediately after their 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday, City trained on Monday and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was a surprise inclusion. But teammates Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku both missed out again and are doubts for the tournament.
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Here's our latest round-up from the City treatment room;
Erling Haaland
Injury: Foot
Latest: Haaland has missed City's last three matches with what Guardiola has described as a 'stress' injury in his foot. He has flown to Jeddah with the squad but was not present during Monday's open training session.
Return date: TBC
What Guardiola has said: "He arrived [on Friday] and the doctors will see him and we will see how he feels. He had treatment away. Hopefully, he can travel to Saudi and we will see if he is able to play in the first game or the second game, or when we come back. I don't think he will play [against Palace], but maybe he surprises me.
"Sometimes players recover quickly, sometimes longer. Day by day, week by week, how he feels. [In] the moment he doesn't have pain he will play."
Jeremy Doku
Injury: Muscular
Latest: Doku was forced off during the 2-1 win at Luton Town earlier this month and has missed the two games since. Like Haaland, he is in Jeddah but did not train on Monday.
Return date: TBC
What Guardiola has said: "It's muscular, it's not a big, big issue like Kevin was, for example, but we have to think about it as well because of his explosiveness. We have to be careful. I don't know when he will be ready - maybe one week or two weeks - and then he will be ready again."
Kevin De Bruyne
Injury: Hamstring
Latest: De Bruyne was a surprise presence in Monday's training session, having flown with the squad to continue his rehabilitation from a four-month lay-off. It remains unlikely he will feature in either Club World Cup game or the December games against Everton and Sheffield United, given the length of his absence and ease with which the injury recurred last time.
Predicted return date: January 2024
What Guardiola has said: "If he [De Bruyne] said January, it's January. I'd love to have him for more of the season. But if he says, it's a happy new year for everyone."