---
title: "Haaland concern grows ahead of Man City v AEK Athens after training absence"
canonical: "https://readmancity.com/2026/10/20/erling-haaland-man-city-aek-training-absence-injury/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Man City Injury News"
published: "2026-10-20T14:02:34Z"
modified: "2026-10-20T14:02:35Z"
---

# Haaland concern grows ahead of Man City v AEK Athens after training absence

**Erling Haaland is a doubt for** [**Man City**](https://readmancity.com/)**‘s Champions League meeting with AEK Athens after missing the club’s open training session ahead of Tuesday night’s game.**

The striker was not spotted with the squad during the open section of City’s final session on Monday, having suffered a knock during Saturday’s 3-2 Premier League victory over Ipswich Town.

Haaland appeared to hurt his foot late in the game after catching Jack Clarke’s studs while shooting and was seen limping as he headed down the tunnel after the final whistle.

His absence from training adds uncertainty over whether he will be involved against AEK, although Enzo Maresca has not ruled him out.

“He can be available. We’ll see,” Maresca said before the session. “We have some doubts after Saturday’s game.

“He was quite good yesterday. Better. So we’ll see today.”

## Haaland decision could go down to the wire

Haaland has been central to City’s perfect start in the Premier League, scoring twice against Ipswich to take his league tally to eight goals this season.

His importance has been even more pronounced in Europe. The Norway international has scored all four of City’s Champions League goals so far, netting twice against Porto and twice in the 4-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.

City are already without Antoine Semenyo against AEK after Maresca confirmed the winger is expected to miss around eight weeks with a knee injury.

Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly were also absent from the open training session after each emerged from the Ipswich victory with fitness concerns. Maresca had earlier indicated that the rest of his squad were “more or less okay”.

City host AEK at the Etihad Stadium at 8pm on Tuesday as they look to respond to their defeat by PSG.

Haaland has not been ruled out, but his training absence means his availability will remain one of the main questions until the teams are announced.

**For all the latest Man City news, team news and Champions League updates, visit our** [**Man City news page**](https://readmancity.com/news/)**.**