Erling Haaland Sparks Injury Concerns for Manchester City Following Substitution with Norway

Norway coach Stale Solbakken revealed that he held a heart-to-heart conversation with Erling Haaland regarding concerns over the striker's heavy workload before a Nations League loss to Portugal. During the match, the Manchester City star asked to be substituted.

Haaland gestured to Norway’s bench that he needed to come off and was replaced in the 67th minute of the 2-1 defeat in Porto on Sunday. He was seen limping on the field before the substitution, raising fitness concerns ahead of his return to City, a club currently under heavy scrutiny over a massive financial scandal in the Premier League.

Speaking after the Portugal match, Solbakken did not confirm an injury but discussed the heavy workload Haaland has faced after playing the full game in each of Norway’s first three Nations League fixtures, which included a win over Denmark and losses to Portugal and Wales. This followed a busy start to the English season with City, after reaching the World Cup quarterfinals with Norway over the summer.

“He was tired against Wales. That’s why we had a heart-to-heart conversation yesterday. We went through the possible options,” Solbakken said in quotes carried by Norwegian media. “He might have played the last 45 minutes against Portugal. That was a discussion. But he has very bad vibes and feelings about it... I am very pleased that he managed to pull out 60 good minutes.”

Haaland did not score on Sunday or against Wales on Thursday, the two games Norway has played since an independent commission published its verdict on City’s financial case. He had scored in the first two games of the international break and maintains a record of 65 goals in 59 appearances for his country.

Haaland is the only senior, out-and-out striker in City’s squad, and their first match back after the international break is an away fixture at Liverpool on Sunday. “He plays pretty much everything on the club team,” Solbakken said.