Pep Guardiola insists he 'doesn't think' Erling Haaland will be ready for Man City's clash with Crystal Palace... and admits he is a DOUBT for next week's Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia

Erling Haaland looks certain to miss Manchester City's annual struggle against Crystal Palace at the Etihad.

The reigning champions have lost two and drawn one of the last five meetings between the clubs on home soil.

And they will go into the latest meeting with Roy Hodgson's side without the record-breaking striker as he recovers from a foot injury.

Haaland was in Spain last week, stepping up his rehab and will fly to Saudi Arabia with the rest of the team straight after the Palace game.

Guardiola said: 'He arrived today and we will see. The doctors will see him and how he feels.

'He has been in treatment away. Hopefully, he can travel to Saudi, we go there tomorrow after the game.

'We will see if he is able to play in the first game or the second game, or when we come back.

'I don't think he will play [against Palace] but maybe he surprises me and they tell me something new.'

The striker has missed two wins this week, at Luton and Red Star Belgrade, although he is not being ruled out of City's two-match Saudi campaign in the FIFA Club World Cup.

But Guardiola has no long-term concerns about his fitness.

He said: 'No. It's not fractured, just stress,

'Sometimes players recover quicker, sometimes longer. The doctors said, we have to take it day by day, week by week, how he feels.

'The moment he doesn't have symptoms or doesn't feel pain, he will play again.'

The City boss has also welcomed the announcement that Rebecca Welch will be the first woman to referee a Premier League game, the meeting between Fulham and Burnley, next week.

He said: 'It's an excellent idea. More than welcome.

'Hopefully in the future there can be more. In Germany years ago and years ago, it was in the Champions League, the Bundesliga, there was a (female) referee. Everybody being more involved is good.'

Guardiola, speaking about Haaland in his press conference, said: 'He arrived today and he will see the doctors and then we will see. 

'He has had treatment. Hopefully he can travel to Saudi, tomorrow after the game (for the Club World Cup) and we will see if he plays the first game or second (in Saudi). 

'I don't think he will be ready to play this weekend, maybe he surprises me.

'It's not a fracture just a stress. Sometimes players recover quickly, longer. Day by day, week by week, how he feels. The moment he doesn't have p