Pep Guardiola has a decision to make on Erling Haaland for Manchester CIty's trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.
23.08.2022 - 19:41 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Erling Haaland's Manchester City career may only be four competitive games old, but already he is showing that his critics were wrong to ever doubt he'd adapt to his new team.
Haaland has followed up an underwhelming showing in the Community Shield Haaland with three goals in three Premier League games, the latest of which dragged City back into a match that Newcastle United looked like running away with.
Speaking on City's Matchday Live show after the 3-3 draw with Newcastle at St James' Park, former City players Steve Howey and Trevor Sinclair were more than impressed with what they saw from the 22-year-old striker.
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"Haaland is perfect for the Premier League, and I think he will terrorize defenders," said Howey.
"I've had little discussions with Alfie, his dad, and I just knew he would fly in this league because he’s got the physique and power plus, he is direct, aggressive and he’s almost a throwback to the traditional number nine of yesteryear combined with the modern striker because he has the attributes of both."
Sinclair echoed those thoughts, but also highlighted the work that Haaland does off the ball as being massively beneficial to City's attack.
"I've noticed that apart from those balls we have been playing in behind the defence for him to run on to, when he comes a little bit deeper, it allows Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo to run into those spaces he’s created and that’s because the central defenders are preoccupied thinking they can’t allow Haaland to get in behind them," said Sinclair.
"He's got this inner determination that is saying, 'I don't care how many doubters I've got, I'm gonna score goals' and his
Pep Guardiola has a decision to make on Erling Haaland for Manchester CIty's trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola has made two changes to his Manchester City team for the visit of Crystal Palace to the Etihad Stadium this afternoon. Nathan Ake - who is missing today through injury - and Ilkay Gundogan drop out of the side that drew 3-3 with Newcastle last weekend, with Ruben Dias and Riyad Mahrez replacing them.
Manchester City played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Barcelona on Wednesday night at Camp Nou.
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