Pep Guardiola reveals if Erling Haaland will play for Man City vs Brentford

Pep Guardiola remains cautious about Erling Haaland's return following the death of a close family friend, stating that they will assess if he is "mentally and physically able to play" before deciding on his involvement this weekend.

As Manchester City prepares to welcome Brentford, there's understandable concern for their star player Haaland, who took compassionate leave and missed squad activities this week, although he was back in training on Thursday.

Ivar Eggja, deeply connected with the Haaland family and considered an "uncle" by Erling, passed away recently. His bond with the City ace was significant, making his loss all the more profound for the young striker.

Guardiola is treading softly, acknowledging the weight of the situation. "It was a tough moment for him and his family. It was sad news. He was close to him and his family. Our thoughts are with him and his family. We will see tomorrow if he is mentally and physically able to play."

With a storming season beginning for Haaland, seven goals in just three matches and eyeing a third consecutive Golden Boot, the tribute he paid to Eggja on social media revealed the emotional resonance of his "uncle's" passing.

"You are a legend, Ivar," he expressed, sharing a heartfelt tribute with multiple photos featuring Eggja. "Words cannot describe how much you meant to me! Words cannot describe how much you will be missed! Thank you for everything, you madman. We will see each other again. Rest in peace, Ivar."

With City parting ways with Haaland's backup Julian Alvarez, who's off to join Atletico Madrid, Pep Guardiola's team might have to get creative in their attacking solutions. They've been champions before without a traditional striker, and Guardiola is no stranger to deploying a false nine when necessary.

The reigning Premier League champs have the opportunity to stretch their lead to five points ahead of Arsenal, given that the Gunners face Spurs on Sunday during the eagerly anticipated north London derby.

Last year's narrow victory over Brentford was sealed by a single Haaland goal, and the Bees' manager Thomas Frank has acknowledged just how tough it is to contain the Norwegian hotshot, commenting: "It's close to impossible. A lot of teams have tried to neutralize him but he's a great player."