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Haaland V Nunez: A golden boot battle in the making

By James Fudge

Dortmund's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland (L) celebrates scoring his team's third goal to lead 3:2 during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Bochum in Dortmund, western Germany on April 30, 2022. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)
Dortmund's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland (L) celebrates scoring his team's third goal to lead 3:2 during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Bochum in Dortmund, western Germany on April 30, 2022. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) /
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SINSHEIM, GERMANY – JANUARY 22: Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund leaves the pitch after picking up an injury during the Bundesliga match between TSG Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund at PreZero-Arena on January 22, 2022 in Sinsheim, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images)
SINSHEIM, GERMANY – JANUARY 22: Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund leaves the pitch after picking up an injury during the Bundesliga match between TSG Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund at PreZero-Arena on January 22, 2022 in Sinsheim, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images) /

Manchester City and Liverpool will have done their due diligence when compiling reports on the two new signings and one of the factors for concern will be their injury record.

Haaland has a history of soft tissue injuries within the last year and has missed a total of 28 games in two and half seasons.

Now, of course, missing any amount of games through injury is not ideal but this narrative that Haaland has the tendency to miss long periods similarly to an overworked youngster, such as a Jack Wilshere or Jack Rodwell, is simply false. A fact that is not hampered the deal or caused Pep and his team to be concerned.

Many medical experts see it as not an issue and put it down to the power and speed that the young Norwegian possesses. A period of rest and rotation under Guardiola will likely see City’s new forward fresh and ready when required.

There is a doubt over Darwin Nunez surrounding his left knee. Conflicting reports claim that the Uruguayan sustained two anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures in consecutive years, with reconstructive surgery sounded out following the initial injury in 2017.

Footballers, amateur or professional, dread the abbreviation being heard knowing full well it is a long way back to full fitness, the typical six to nine months timeframe depending on the severity.
Regardless of the specifics, that’s two serious injuries to the same knee in back-to-back years, which would have raised some concern at the time.

However, Liverpool’s medical team will be aware and likely to have completed a full assessment of that troublesome area. Any concerns would opt them out of the signing, similar to the Nabil Fekir transfer back in 2018, providing there was enough significant worry regarding the joint.

Time will tell over the coming 12 months whether any fitness concerns will hamper their bid for the golden boot, however the smoothness of the medicals would have eased all that concern amongst staff and fans alike.