Haaland fit to return after Bundesliga Christmas break, confirms Dortmund chief Zorc

Erling Haaland will be fit to return after the Bundesliga Christmas break, Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has confirmed.

Haaland scored 17 goals in 14 appearances for Dortmund at the start of the season before being sidelined through injury before the Champions League clash with Lazio on December 12.

The 20-year-old missed Dortmund's next six matches, including the 2-1 defeat at Union Berlin which marked the club's final Bundesliga fixture of 2020.

Dortmund have slipped to fifth in the standings in Haaland's absence, eight points behind current leaders and reigning champions Bayern Munich.

Lucien Favre paid the price for the team's poor form when he was relieved of his managerial duties earlier this month, with Edin Terzic stepping into his shoes on an interim basis.

Terzic has received a welcome boost ahead of Dortmund's return to action against Wolfsburg on January 3, with Haaland now ready to get back on the pitch after making a full recovery from a muscle issue.

Westfalenstadion chief Zorc, who serves as the senior intermediary between the club's coaching staff and board, delivered a positive update on the Norwegian striker's fitness on Tuesday.

“The rehab went very well. We assume that Erling can play again against Wolfsburg," Zorc told BILD.

Haaland has been linked with a big-money move away from Dortmund after a bright start to life in Germany, with Premier League duo Manchester United and Manchester City among those linked with an interest in his services.

However, a man who joined Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg for just €20 million (£18m/$24m) in January insists he is quite content in his current surroundings and says he wants to play a part in delivering major silverware to the club over the next few years.

“My biggest dream right now is to achieve something with Dortmund and that’s what I am working for,” Haaland told DAZN in an interview published on Boxing Day.

“To try to give this to the club and to the fans because everyone in this club deserves this. I will do the best every time I can.

“The club bought me for a lot of money and the fans can expect me to give 100 per cent. Borussia Dortmund is just the big dream I’m living. Achieving something with BVB is what I’m working for.”