According to a report by Evening Standard on Thursday October 22, 2026, Manchester City have received a major boost ahead of their clash against Aston Villa, with Erling Haaland declared fully available despite recent concerns over his fitness.

City manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that the Norwegian striker is ready to feature after being left on the bench throughout Tuesday's victory over AEK Athens.

Haaland had sparked concerns after appearing to struggle physically during City's dramatic 3-2 win over Ipswich Town last weekend, despite scoring twice in the encounter.

The striker had also enjoyed a busy international break with Norway, making his recent workload a concern ahead of another demanding fixture.

However, Maresca has now reassured supporters that the prolific forward is ready to return to action.

"Erling is the only one 100 per cent available," the City manager confirmed on Thursday.

While Haaland's availability represents positive news, City are still waiting for updates on three other players ahead of their trip to Villa Park.

Matheus Nunes, Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic are all dealing with fitness problems and missed the midweek victory over AEK Athens.

Kovacic is carrying a knock, while Nunes and O’Reilly are struggling with minor issues. Maresca revealed that their availability would depend on how they responded during the team's training session.

"We have a session this afternoon. They can be all available or not. Yesterday they were all improving, and we'll see this afternoon," he explained.

The manager also suggested that Haaland could feature alongside Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki, although the final decision would depend on City's tactical approach.

Foden will be particularly confident after scoring a hat-trick in the midweek victory, giving Maresca another attacking option in impressive form.

Meanwhile, Antoine Semenyo is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, providing a further setback for the team.