Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted there will be occasions where he needs to leave Erling Haaland out of his starting XI this season.
The Norway international striker was not without his injury problems at former club Borussia Dortmund, missing more than a dozen games last season. However, since leaving for City over the summer in a deal worth a reported £51m, he has started all three Premier League games and played the full 90 minutes of the 3-3 draw at Newcastle on Sunday.
Haaland is not the only forward to link up with the City squad this summer, with January signing Julian Alvarez also involved after ending last season on loan at River Plate. And Guardiola has committed to a plan in which the pair share the load when the schedule gets more hectic.
"I'll tell you now that when we have games every three days Erling is not going to play (every game)," Guardiola said. "Julian is going to play."
Alvarez is yet to make his first competitive start in English football. However, after scoring from the bench in the Community Shield, he also made late cameos in the league victories over West Ham United and Bournemouth.
Guardiola's comments came after Haaland scored from close range against Newcastle to help his team come back from 3-1 down. The Norwegian might also have scored earlier in the game, only for home goalkeeper Nick Pope to tip his low shot onto the post.
"Proper football game," Guardiola told BBC Sport after watching his team take an early lead through Ilkay Gundogan before falling behind.. "We started really well.
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"We lost some duels and they could run. Once the game was open they were better for 20 minutes. The team showed who we are."
City might have come back to win, but in the end were made to settle for a point. Newcastle benefited from an overturned sending off as well, with goalscorer Kieran Trippier seeing his card downgraded to yellow after a VAR check.
"Newcastle are becoming one of the toughest opponents for sure," Guardiola told Sky Sports. "Leeds beat Chelsea today. The Premier League is so difficult for everyone.
"It shows how amazing we’ve done for five years and how difficult it will be. To see the team fight to the end is enough."
City's point wasn't enough to send them back to the top of the table, and means Arsenal are now the only Premier League team with a 100% record. Next up for Haaland and co is a clash with Crystal Palace, though City have a friendly against Barcelona before their next competitive outing.
