Erling Haaland has poked fun at his injury after being left needing stitches when he was struck in the face by Norway’s team bus.
The Manchester City striker posted a fresh photo on Monday morning showing his swollen bottom lip, taped underneath, with the caption ‘Good morning’.
The new snap comes a day after he revealed the cut that required treatment following a freak accident at Norway’s team hotel in Oslo.
Haaland, 25, was caught in the face when the bus trunk door flew open as he stood nearby, leaving him with a nasty gash that needed three stitches.
The striker chose to laugh the incident off, writing on Snapchat after receiving treatment: ‘Just got banged out by a bus door. 3 stitches.’
Haaland also joined in with supporters making tongue-in-cheek suggestions about what had happened. When one fan claimed he had been punched, he replied: ‘Hahahaha wrong answers only.’
Erling Haaland has poked fun at his injury after being left needing stitches when he was struck in the face by Norway’s team bus
The new snap comes a day after he revealed the cut that required treatment following a freak accident at Norway’s team hotel in Oslo
Another insisted Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was responsible, with Haaland jokingly writing: ‘Correct.’
His light-hearted reaction eased concerns among City and Norway supporters after images of him bleeding heavily from the mouth spread on Sunday night.
Norway captain Odegaard admitted he feared the damage could have been far worse.
‘I didn’t see it, but I heard he had a door in his face,’ said the Arsenal midfielder. ‘It didn’t sound good, but it looks like he’s doing okay. It’s high up, I’ve never been in anything like it. It could have been a little ugly, but it seems to be going well.’
Norway manager Stale Solbakken revealed Haaland even needed a dental check-up after the accident.
‘I was in the dining room and didn’t get to see it. We just have to be happy. It could actually have gone badly, but it went well,’ he said.
‘He got some stitches and stopped some bleeding. He also went to the dentist, I think. There is nothing to fear about the match.’
Haaland is currently with the Norway squad as they bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Solbakken’s side have made a perfect start in Group I with four wins from four and face Moldova in Oslo on Tuesday night.
The striker chose to laugh the incident off, writing on Snapchat after receiving treatment: ‘Just got banged out by a bus door. 3 stitches.’
Haaland is currently with the Norway squad as they bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup
The forward has already been on target in the campaign, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Finland last week from the penalty spot. He now has 43 goals in 44 senior appearances for his country, making him Norway’s all-time record scorer at just 25.
Norway have not qualified for a major tournament since Euro 2000, but with Haaland spearheading the attack and Odegaard wearing the armband, hopes are high that the drought will end.
For City, the sight of their star striker in good spirits will be reassuring.
Haaland struck 31 goals last season despite missing part of the campaign through injury and remains central to Pep Guardiola’s bid to retain the Premier League crown.
He will return to Manchester following the international break before City face United in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland’s club team-mate Oscar Bobb is also in the Norway squad, along with Fulham midfielder Sander Berge, Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer and Wolves full-back David Moller Wolfe.
Odegaard is the most experienced figure in the group, with 64 caps, and has forged a strong partnership with Haaland in attack.
