Julian Alvarez will start for Manchester City vs Leicester if Erling Haaland is not fit, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
Haaland will be assessed on Friday after picking up a knock in the week vs Borussia Dortmund, coupled with a bout of fever before the game. He has started every Premier League game so far this season for City, but that streak may end on Saturday if he is not recovered in time vs Leicester.
In his place, Guardiola said the default replacement would be Alvarez, although he stopped short of definitely committing to who will play upfront until he knows more of Haaland's condition.
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"Normally if Erling [Haaland] is not ready then Julian [Alvarez] is the first option, of course," Guardiola said. "We're going to play him, definitely. He can play false nine but I think this is not going to happen. Julian can drop, is good dropping and playing. When Erling is not able, not tomorrow but for the future, then Julian is the first option."
Guardiola also leapt to the defence of Alvarez, saying the Argentine has impressed him in training and added that he has full confidence that goals will come when he gets a regular chance of playing.
"How many minutes has he played?" Guardiola asked. "Play 90 minutes every game and he will score goals, maybe not like Erling, but he will score goals. I don't judge, I know how many minutes he plays. I know when you are not used to playing the impact on the game. But since day one we have been impressed about many things about him, no doubt about that."
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