Haaland 'fit and ready' for City ahead of Saints trip: Guardiola

Erling Haaland, City's top scorer this season with 30 goals, is set to feature when his side travel to relegated Southampton on Saturday. The Norway striker, who has not played since sustaining an ankle problem at Bournemouth in March, was an unused substitute in the victory over Wolves last week.

"He's ready, he's fit. Whether he starts, we'll decide tomorrow," Guardiola said. The battle for Champions League qualification via a top-five finish is set to go down to the wire. With three games left, Manchester City hold a three-point advantage over sixth-placed Forest.

Fourth-placed Newcastle are playing fifth-placed Chelsea on Sunday, giving City a chance to pull away from one of their top five rivals. However, Guardiola is not taking anything for granted against bottom-of-the-table Southampton, who have collected just 11 points in a dismal campaign.

"We start 0-0 and it's a massively important game for us. There are just three games left and after this it is two. We have huge respect for them," the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager said.

"There are six or seven teams who can qualify, so we have to make our points, and if we make three victories, we will be there. It is in our hands. We don't need to wait on anything else. Win one game, then the next one and the next one."