Haaland a doubt, Semenyo out - what are Man City's options? — SkimNews
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- Erling Haaland is a doubt for City's Champions League match against AEK Athens after suffering a foot injury in Saturday's 3-2 win over Ipswich Town, though manager Enzo Maresca said the striker "can be available" and will be assessed after Monday's training.
- Haaland scored twice against Ipswich to reach eight Premier League goals this season — leading the top-flight scoring charts — and recorded his 100th non-penalty Premier League goal in fewer appearances than any other player.
- Antoine Semenyo has been ruled out for eight weeks with a left knee injury picked up against Ipswich, ruling out Maresca's previously stated option to deploy the Ghanaian as a striker; Semenyo had made 10 appearances this season with two goals and three assists.
- Phil Foden is being considered as a forward option after ending a goal drought by scoring his first Premier League goal since December on Saturday, with Maresca noting "Phil can be one of the solutions" and has previously played as a false nine.
- Divin Mubama's summer loan to Southampton left City without a natural Haaland deputy, a gap now exposed as Maresca weighs alternatives including Rayan Cherki, whom Pep Guardiola last season said fits the false-nine role "perfectly."
- Jeremy Doku started on the left flank against Ipswich and is expected to continue in that role in Semenyo's absence.
- Maresca said of the Semenyo blow: "In the first moment we expected an even worse injury, so we were more worried," adding that the winger should return around December with renewed energy.
Why it matters: City's decision to loan out Mubama without signing a like-for-like No. 9 has left Maresca improvising via Foden or Cherki at the most important position on the pitch, with a Champions League group-stage point to recover from after last week's 4-2 loss to Paris St-Germain. The eight-week Semenyo absence also strips City of a versatile attacking option across roughly 13 matches heading into the busy winter period.
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