Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Erling Haaland is available to return to the matchday squad for Wednesday's Premier League clash against Burnley at the Etihad Stadium.
The Norwegian has been sidelined since early December and has not played in any of City's last 10 matches across all competitions due to a "bone stress reaction" in his foot.
Haaland has since been gradually building up his fitness in training and went away with the rest of the Citizens' first-team squad to Abu Dhabi during a mini winter break earlier this month.
Guardiola revealed prior to City's 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fourth round last Friday that Haaland was "on the verge" of returning to the first-team fold, and he has since confirmed that the 23-year-old will be available to face Burnley.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Guardiola said: "Yeah, Erling Haaland will be selected. He's back. When we have all the squad we are stronger and Erling is a very important player for the squad. He feels good."
Asked if Haaland's return is set to be managed in the same gradual way as Kevin De Bruyne, who has recently returned following a five-month injury layoff with a torn hamstring, Guardiola added: "Kevin's was muscular with surgery, so it was a completely different approach. Erling's was a stress on the bone, so a different approach. Step by step."
Despite missing each of the last five Premier League games, Haaland is still the joint-top scorer in the division this season with 14 goals along with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.
Haaland will fancy his chances of increasing his goal tally if he is handed minutes either from the start or as a substitute on Wednesday, as the striker has scored five goals in his previous two meetings with Burnley, including a brace in the 3-0 win at Turf Moor on the opening weekend of the season back in August last year.
Guardiola has also revealed that he has a fully-fit squad for the visit of Vincent Kompany's Burnley, as defender Manuel Akanji is also available to return after missing the last two games with a knee problem.
In addition, John Stones is in contention to feature after recovering from an ankle injury; the defender missed three games before returning to the matchday squad and watching on as an unused substitute against Tottenham last time out.
"The most important news is all the squad are fit," said Guardiola. "We don't have injuries – Manu is back, training well he doesn't feel his knee. John as well. That is the best news.
"The important part of season starts now. FA Cup, the Champions League is around the corner and of course the Premier League – it's important that we have everyone available."
Man City enter Wednesday's contest in buoyant mood as they have won nine and drawn one of their last 10 games in all tournaments, and they will be regarded as firm favourites to come out on top against a Burnley side whom they have beaten in each of the last 12 meetings by a staggering aggregate score of 43-1.
The Citizens currently sit second in the Premier League table, five points behind leaders Liverpool - who face Chelsea on Wednesday - but Guardiola's side have a game in hand on the Reds. body check tags ::
