Man City without Haaland at Leeds after training injury

man city will be without Erling Haaland at Elland Road on Saturday after the striker picked up an injury in training and was not fit to travel with the squad. The absence removes the league’s leading goals threat from the matchday roster and alters City’s attacking plans for a fixture against an in-form Leeds side.

Man City lineup change for Leeds

For man city, Omar Marmoush will start atop the attack in Haaland’s place. The team travelled without Haaland after he was judged unfit to make the trip following a training issue, leaving the coaching staff to reshuffle the front line for the visit to Elland Road.

Haaland availability and schedule

Jan Aage Fjortoft said Haaland is likely to be available as soon as the midweek clash against Nottingham Forest, but he was not fit for action on Saturday. The situation is being treated as short-term in that update; if Haaland recovers within a few days, he could return for the midweek fixture. The timing matters because a swift recovery would allow the team to restore its primary striker for the next competitive match.

What the numbers show

Haaland has 22 goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season, leading the division in goals and total goal contributions. This will be his first time missing a Premier League 18 since May 2, 2025, when he was an unused substitute at the end of a six-match absence for an ankle injury. During the season he missed seven games and the team recorded a five-win, one-draw, one-loss record in that spell; in the prior season he also missed seven games and the team went six wins and one draw in his absence. Those patterns provide concrete historical context for how the squad has adapted without him in past stretches.

Immediate implications and outlook

The change to the starting lineup gives Marmoush a clear opportunity to lead the attack for the match at Leeds. The matchup remains significant because Leeds are described as being in form; with Haaland absent for the trip, the fixture tests the squad’s depth and tactical flexibility. If Haaland’s recovery timeline stays measured in days rather than weeks, the roster disruption could be brief and the striker could be available for the midweek Nottingham Forest fixture.

Key takeaways

• Erling Haaland was ruled out of the Leeds match after an injury in training and did not travel with the team.
• Omar Marmoush starts up front in Haaland’s place for the trip to Elland Road.
• Haaland has 22 goals and seven assists this Premier League season and is likely to be available for the midweek match against Nottingham Forest if his recovery is quick.