Manchester City have been handed a major boost regarding the fitness of goal machine Erling Braut Haaland ahead of Saturday's Premier League encounter against Southampton at St Mary's.

The Premier League's top scorer, who has netted 28 goals in just 26 league games, was unable to recover in time from a groin injury to feature in City's 4-1 home victory over Liverpool last weekend.

However, Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Haaland is "ready" to play against the Saints, although his minutes are set to be managed on the South Coast with one eye on City's Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich next week.

Julian Alvarez, who scored against Liverpool and starred as Haaland's replacement, will likely drop to the substitutes' bench if City's No.9 returns to the starting lineup, while Guardiola may also ponder rotation in a few other positions in his first XI.

First-choice goalkeeper Ederson is expected to keep his place, though, while John Stones impressed as a makeshift right-back that often roamed into centre-midfield against Liverpool, and the Englishman could keep his spot or move across to centre-back if either Kyle Walker or Rico Lewis are handed a start.

Kevin De Bruyne, who is just one assist away from registering his 100th in the Premier League, is set to continue in the middle of the pitch alongside captain Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri, while Bernardo Silva and Kalvin Phillips are also options at Guardiola's disposal.

With Phil Foden facing up to three weeks on the sidelines after undergoing appendicitis surgery, Bernardo, Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer will all battle for starts on the flanks.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish body check tags ::