Manchester City may have to navigate their upcoming Champions League match against AEK Athens without star striker Erling Haaland due to a foot injury sustained during Saturday's 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town. The 26-year-old Norwegian international, who has been in stellar form with eight Premier League goals this season, is now a doubt for the crucial European fixture at Etihad Stadium.

Manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the challenge of replacing Haaland, stating, "To replace Erling is always difficult but we have some different options. It also depends on the gameplan." Maresca emphasized that Haaland remains the first choice, but if necessary, alternative strategies could be employed.

Should Haaland be unavailable, City faces a significant selection dilemma as Antoine Semenyo is sidelined for eight weeks due to a knee injury. Semenyo had been considered a backup option but is now out of contention, leaving City without a natural replacement for Haaland.

Key highlights include:

• Haaland scored his 100th non-penalty Premier League goal against Ipswich, achieving this milestone in record time.
• Maresca noted that Haaland "can be available" against AEK Athens, pending assessment after Monday’s training session.
• Phil Foden emerged as a potential alternative after scoring his first Premier League goal since December, with Maresca suggesting he could fill in as a striker.
• Iliman Ndiaye, a summer signing, and Rayan Cherki have also been mentioned as possible options, given their previous experiences in forward roles.

As City seeks to bounce back from their recent 4-2 defeat to Paris St-Germain, the decision on Haaland's fitness will be pivotal.