MANCHESTER City star Erling Haaland has declared "I'm ready" to play against Saints this weekend after a period on the sidelines with injury.

An ankle concern has meant the 24 year old, who has scored 30 goals in 40 matches in all competitions this season, has not featured since March.

However, he was named on the bench in Man City's 1-0 win over Wolves last weekend and is expected to play some part in the match at St Mary's.

Pep Guardiola's side face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup next weekend with Haaland needing to get up to speed, facing 20th-place Saints at the best time.

“It was horrible to be injured, but what can you do? You have to recover as quickly as you can and to come back as fit as you can," Haaland told ESPN.

"Now I’m back with loads of energy. I’m feeling good and moving good, and I’m ready.”

Man City have won their last five matches in a row but are only three points clear of Nottingham Forest in sixth with three games to play.

This means they still need two results to guarantee their Champions League qualification next season and are unlikely to rotate heavily, even at St Mary's.

Haaland has challenged himself and his teammates to finish the season strongly, starting with a comprehensive victory over last placed in the league.

"Of course, you can find excuses, injuries, many injuries at bad times, but in the end, we haven't been performing well enough," said the Norwegian.

"We haven't had fully the hunger inside of us. I haven't been good enough. I haven't helped the team enough. In the end, we haven't been good enough."