Manchester City's Erling Haaland withdraws from Norway squad due to injury

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has withdrawn from the Norway squad ahead of Sunday's Euro 2024 qualifier against Scotland due to an ankle/foot injury.

The 23-year-old sustained the problem in the closing stages of Norway's 2-0 friendly win over the Faroe Islands on Thursday – a contest in which the striker began on substitutes' bench before coming on at half time.

Haaland required treatment on the pitch but managed to see out the game, with Norway head coach Stale Solbakken stating afterwards that their leading marksman will be assessed on Friday.

Norway have since announced that Haaland "is in so much pain" and has therefore been forced to withdraw from the national team squad, although they say the injury picked up by the Man City man is "not serious".

A statement from the Norwegian national team read: "Erling Braut Haaland, in consultation with the medical officer Ola Sand and national team manager Stale Solbakken, has come to the conclusion that he has to miss the European Championship qualifier against Scotland.

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"Haaland hit his foot during the match against the Faroe Islands on Thursday and is therefore not eligible to play in Glasgow."

Norway national team doctor Ola Sand added: "The injury is not serious, but he is in so much pain and somewhat restricted function that the Scotland game unfortunately comes a little too early."

Solbakken has confirmed that he will not be calling up a replacement for Haaland, saying: "It is of course a shame that Erling will not be ready for the match on Sunday, but we will not be bringing in a replacement.

"This is a great opportunity for the offensive players in the squad to show off".

Haaland, who missed Norway's first two Euro 2024 qualifiers back in March with a groin problem, has scored six goals in five matches in Group A, but that has not been enough to help the Scandinavian nation secure automatic qualification ahead of the top two teams Spain and Scotland – Norway are still in with a chance of claiming a playoff spot, though.

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Haaland is Norway's second all-time leading scorer with 27 goals in 29 international appearances, while he has already made another impressive start to the 2023-24 campaign for Man City, netting 17 goals in 18 games across all competitions.

The Citizens will hope that their star striker can make a speedy recovery in time for a top-of-the-table Premier League clash against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on November 25.

Man City's injury concerns have mounted over the international break this month, with Haaland becoming the fifth senior player to withdraw due to injury after Nathan Ake, Ederson, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes.

Pep Guardiola's side have also suffered an injury scare regarding midfielder Rodri, who was forced to sit out of Spain's 3-1 win over Cyprus due to 'discomfort'.

The reigning Premier League champions are already having to cope without John Stones, Sergio Gomez and Kevin De Bruyne, with the former facing "a while" on the sidelines with a fresh muscle issue.