Erling Haaland returns to Man City training following groin injury

Manchester City goal machine Erling Braut Haaland has returned to training after recovering from a groin injury, according to The Athletic.

The 22-year-old picked up the knock in the emphatic 6-0 success over Burnley in the FA Cup, bagging a hat-trick before being replaced by Cole Palmer in the 63rd minute.

The injury forced him to withdraw from the Norway squad, missing out on their European Championship qualification games against Spain and Georgia.

Haaland also watched from the stands as Pep Guardiola’s side swatted aside Liverpool with a resounding 4-1 victory to keep pace with Arsenal at the Premier League summit.

Julian Alvarez, who led the line in place of the Norwegian, grabbed the equalising goal ten minutes after his side went behind to set the Cityzens on the path to victory.

However, Haaland has now returned to team training ahead of the weekend clash against relegation-battling Southampton at St Mary’s.

The defending champions have shown they can get the job done without their goal machine, but Haaland’s return will come as a boost to Guardiola’s side.

The former Borussia Dortmund marksman has taken the English top flight by storm, notching 28 goals in 26 Premier League appearances.

He has scored 42 goals in 37 games across all competitions, including six hat-tricks and a five-goal haul against RB Leipzig in the Champions League last month.

Having just returned to the fold, it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to start against Ruben Selles’ Saints, who are rooted to the bottom of the table.

If Haaland is deemed unable to start, Alvarez, who has also been impeccable for the Cityzens this season, will likely retain his place in the starting line-up.

Guardiola’s side are looking to retain their Premier League crown for the third successive season but are trailing Arsenal by eight points – although the Gunners have played one more game.

Victory over Southampton on Saturday will heap the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side, who face Liverpool on Sunday evening.