Erling Haaland injury update: Man City star leaves Norway squad, but will he miss Premier League games?

Erling Haaland has withdrawn from Norway’s squad for their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against Spain and Georgia.

The superstar striker has been in remarkably prolific form for Manchester City this season, scoring 42 goals in 37 games.

Haaland bolstered that haul considerably over the past week with five in a 7-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig before hitting a sixth hat-trick of the campaign in last weekend’s 6-0 FA Cup quarterfinal win over Burnley.

However, the 22-year-old suffered a groin injury during the latter game that will rule him out of action for his country over the next week.

MORE: Erling Haaland goals, records for Manchester City: Updated list

Erling Haaland injury update: Latest news

Norway’s FA announced on March 21 that Haaland “had some pain in his groin after the match against Burnley” and would be returning to his club.

Man City have yet to offer any confirmation as to the severity of the problem.

“We hoped that this was just a formality that would carry over to Saturday, but after doing tests and examinations yesterday it became clear that he will not make it to the games against Spain and Georgia. It is better that he receives a medical follow-up at his club,” said Norway national team doctor Ola Sand.

Kampene mot Spania og Georgia går dessverre uten Erling Braut Haaland. Han har reist hjem grunnet skade. Les mer her: https://t.co/BPVnWNWUgt

— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) March 21, 2023

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken explained Haaland was disappointed when he was ruled out of his country’s start of their bid to reach Euro 2024.

“Erling took it hard when he realised that he could not fight for the team. Fortunately, there is still plenty of self-confidence, talent and cohesion in this group to win points in the next matches,” he said. 

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Groin injury recovery time: How long will Erling Haaland be out?

It’s difficult to estimate how long Haaland will be out of action given City have yet to confirm how severe the injury might be.

Generally speaking, a groin strain tends to keep players on the sidelines for somewhere between four weeks and three months, depending on how serious the damage is.

Haaland played 63 minutes of Man City’s win over Burnley, in which he scored another hat-trick, and he did not seem to be in any great discomfort as he was substituted. That would suggest the injury is not too serious.

Erling Haaland injury: What Man City games will he miss?

The severity of Haaland’s injury is unclear at present, but Pep Guardiola will be hoping to have his top scorer fit and firing for a pivotal April.

City host Liverpool on their first game after the international break on April 1, where they will try to make a dent in Arsenal’s eight-point lead in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal visit the Etihad Stadium in a potential title decider on April 26, four days after Guardiola’s men face Championship high-flyers Sheffield United in an FA Cup semifinal at Wembley.

The reigning Premier League champions have been drawn against Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, with the first leg taking place in Manchester on April 11 and the return at the Allianz Arena eight days later.