Manuel Ekanji backs Man City team-mate Erling Haaland to score 50 league goals if he stays fit

Manuel Akanji believes his Manchester City team-mate Erling Haaland is capable of scoring 50 Premier League goals this season if he avoids injuries.

Haaland has made a stunning start at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 14 goals in just eight league games since his arrival in the summer, leaving seven goals behind his closest challenger – Harry Kane – in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot.

Mohamed Salah currently holds the record for number of goals in a 38-game campaign, with 32 in 2017-18. Akanji expects Haaland to pass this number if he stays fit.

“If he stays healthy then I think there is nothing that can stop him, yes,” Akanji said when asked if it is possible for Haaland to score 50 league goals this season, as quoted by The sun.

The Norwegian attacker has not missed a game for City this season and has also found the net five times in three games in the Champions League.

However, Akanji has played alongside Haaland at Borussia Dortmund and is aware of the fitness issues the 22-year-old has suffered in the past.

Haaland suffered a number of muscle problems in his last season in the Bundesliga, which limited him to just 24 appearances in Germany’s top division.

However, he still scored 22 goals in these matches, proving himself as one of the deadliest finishers in Europe.

So far he has remained injury free in England and will not participate in the World Cup later this year after Norway failed to qualify for the tournament.

This will allow him to enter the second half of the season fresh and ready to break a number of goalscoring records in his first Premier League campaign.

Haaland has scored three consecutive hat-tricks in the home league and could appreciate his chances of adding to his goal tally when City host Southampton on Saturday afternoon.