Pep Guardiola hints Erling Haaland could be rested against Young Boys in the Champions League after picking up an ankle injury in the 6-1 rout over Bournemouth… as Manchester City manager insists he ‘will listen to the doctors’

• Erling Haaland came off at halftime during the win over Bournemouth
• City are due to train on Monday afternoon ahead of clash against Young Boys
• Can Liverpool challenge for the title? Listen to the debate on It’s All Kicking Off

Pep Guardiola will give Erling Haaland every opportunity to prove his fitness after the Manchester City striker twisted his ankle at the weekend.

Haaland – who already has 11 Premier League goals this season – came off at half-time of Saturday’s 6-1 win over Bournemouth.

City are due to train at 3pm today [Monday] before facing Young Boys in the Champions League tomorrow and Guardiola will be tempted to rest his top scorer ahead of next weekend’s trip to Chelsea.

‘I will listen to the doctors,’ Guardiola said. 

‘Yesterday [Sunday] he told me he feels much better than on the day of the game but I don’t know.

Pep Guardiola will give Erling Haaland every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the Champions League clash against Young Boys on Tuesday night

The Norwegian came off at half-time against Bournemouth after seemingly twisting his ankle

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‘If he says he’s ready and doesn’t have pain, I’ll consider him to play. Right now if Erling can’t play, Julian [Alvarez] will play there. 

‘Julian is quite good! I like him arriving as a striker and he can play both so we’re really pleased.’

City can secure qualification to the knockout stages for an 11th consecutive year with a result against the Swiss champions at the Etihad Stadium, which would also extend their imposing winning run at the Etihad Stadium.

‘It’s incredible,’ Guardiola added. ‘Tomorrow we have to try to do it, There will be more opportunities but we want to have the chance to finish it for February, for the next stage.

‘It means a lot coming after [Roberto] Mancini and [Manuel] Pellegrini. Being there is a success and every time we qualify is really good.

‘Try to be calm and review the game because we struggled a lot at 1-1 and they made really good transitions creating problems in behind. They linked really well with the strikers so we have to adjust some things and hopefully we can finish the job.’

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