Pep Guardiola hints at Erling Haaland's return against Fulham

Manchester City's Norwegian star could be back in action on Saturday

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  1) Erling Haaland opened his Manchester City goals account with a penalty in the 2-0 win against West Ham United at London Stadium on August 7, 2022. Getty

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  2) Haaland celebrates after also scoring the second goal against West Ham. Reuters

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  3) Haaland was on target again in the thrilling 3-3 draw against Newcastle United St James' Park on August 21, 2022. Getty

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  4) City fell two behind at home to Crystal Palace on August 27, but a shock was averted. Haaland celebrates after scoring their second goal in a 4-2 win. EPA

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  5) ...and the Norwegian soon added their third against Palace. AP

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  6) ... and their fourth for his first City hat-trick. PA

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  7) Haaland clearly enjoyed scoring a treble, so he helped himself to another in the 6-0 destruction of Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium on August 31, 2022. This was the first. Getty

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  8) Haaland celebrates after scoring his second goal against Forest. EPA

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  9) Haaland completes his hat-trick against Forest. AFP

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  10) Doubles figures for Haaland on September 3 as he scores in the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa. Action Images

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  11) Haaland opens his City Champions League account with the opening goal in the 4-0 victory at Sevilla on September 6. EPA

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  12) Haaland celebrates with teammates after scoring his second and City's third against Sevilla. Getty

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  13) Erling Haaland scores a spectacular winner in the 2-1 Champions League victory against former club Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad stadium on September 14, 2022. AP

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  14) Haaland on the mark again, this time in the 3-0 win at Wolves on September 17. PA

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  15) A first Manchester derby for Erling Haaland, and he scores the second goal in City's 6-3 Premier League win against United on October 2, 2022. Getty

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  16) No stopping the Norwegian in the derby as he scores again against United. PA

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  17) Haaland scores City's fifth goal against United and completes his hat-trick. Reuters

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  18) Erling Haaland celebrates scoring the opening goal in the Champions League win against FC Copenhagen on October 5, 2022. PA

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  19) Erling Haaland scores his second goal against FC Copenhagen - and was taken off at half-time to spare them more punishment. AP

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  20) Erling Haaland scored his 20th of the season in the 4-0 rout against Southampton on October 8. EPA

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  21) Haaland celebrates after scoring City's opening goal in the 3-1 Premier League win against Brighton at Etihad Stadium on October 22, 2022. PA

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  22) Haaland adds his 22nd goal for City from the penalty spot against Brighton. Getty

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  23) Erling Haaland is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the late winner in the 2-1 victory against Fulham at Etihad Stadium on November 5, 2022. AP

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  24) Haaland celebrates scoring the opening goal in the 3-2 League Cup fourth round win against at Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on December 22, 2022. Getty

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  25) A quarter of a century as Haaland celebrates scoring City's second goal in the 3-1 Premier League win against Leeds at Elland Road on December 28, 2022. PA

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  26) And another against Leeds on the same night. PA

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  27) Rounding off the year with another goal, but a surprise draw, Haaland scored in the 1-1 Premier League game against Everton at the Etihad Stadium on December 31, 2022. AFP

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  28) Haaland heads City's second in the 4-2 Premier League win against Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on January 19, 2023. PA

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  29) Haaland after scoring the first in the 3-0 Premier League win against Wolves at Etihad Stadium on January 22, 2023. Getty

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  30) Yes, 30 for the season in January, as he nets again against Wolves. PA

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  31) Wolves suffer even more as Haaland completes his hat-trick. AFP

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  32) A crucial game in the title race and Haaland scores City's third in the 3-1 win against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on February 15, 2023. Getty

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  33) Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto fails to stop Haaland from scoring City's second goal in their 4-1 Premier League win at the Vitality Stadium on February 25, 2023. PA

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  34) City players celebrate after Haaland scores the only goal in the Premier League win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on March 11, 2023. Getty

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  35) The start of an incredible night - even by Haaland's astonishing standards - as he scores the first goal in the 7-0 Champions League destruction of RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium on March 14, 2023. AFP

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  36) ... No 2 on the night soon followed. Action Images

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  37) Haaland had a hat-trick before half-time. AFP

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  38) But three was not enough for Haaland as he celebrates his fourth against Leipzig. AP

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  39) Five on the night against RB Leipzig and up to 39 for the season - a City record - and it's only midway through March. AP

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said Premier League top goalscorer Erling Haaland is "much better" and could return to action against Fulham on Saturday.

Guardiola did not risk Haaland for City's Champions League clash with Sevilla in midweek, given they had already sealed top spot in their group, after the Norwegian picked up a knock against former club Borussia Dortmund the previous week.

Haaland, who has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water following his close season move to Manchester, scoring 22 goals across all competitions already, could be given the chance to add to his incredible tally on Saturday.

"He's much better, we'll decide today," Guardiola said on Friday. "A good step, he starts training today. We see this afternoon. We consider his opinion, the doctor's opinion, [if he will play] 90 minutes or less minutes, we'll see."

Meanwhile, Guardiola believes Liverpool remain a strong threat to the champions in the title race.

Second-placed City head into this week's round of fixtures 13 points clear of the side that have been their closest rival in recent seasons.

Guardiola said: "They have the same manager and squad who were able to make 17 victories in a row, 18 victories in a row in the past. Why are they not able to do it again?

"Nobody knows what is going to happen after the World Cup, there's the transfer window, players coming back. This is my feeling.

"I would say Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham, (Manchester) United and Liverpool. It think these teams can fight for the title."

The Spaniard also praised Gerard Pique after the Barcelona defender announced he will retire this week, with his final match at Camp Nou for Barcelona, where he won two Champions League titles during Guardiola's time as manager there, to be on Saturday.

"Surprise news. I know his mum and dad, he is an incredible human being, huge personality," Guardiola said. "A player for the big games, never not in the highest level. All the big clubs need these kind of players.

"He won everything for Barcelona and Spain. The time arrives, the future will be bright, he's a smart guy. An honour to be his manager, we spent an incredible four years together.

"His dream came true, 13, 14, 15 years being there [Barcelona] all the time."