Erling Haaland has the chance to tear up another page in Engish football’s record books after being selected to start Manchester City’s Premier League match against Brentford.

Haaland scored hat-tricks in back-to-back games against Ipswich Town and West Ham prior to the international break, taking him on to seven in just three games this term.

He also scored in Norway’s 2-1 UEFA Nations League win over Austria but was then granted extra leave due to the death of a close family friend.

Ivar Eggja, a long-time companion of Haaland’s father Alfie and a confidant to the player himself, died aged 59 this week.

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“It’s a tough moment for him and his family. It was sad, sad news. It’s a close personal friend of him and his family, who was 59 years old. Our thoughts are, of course, with him and his family,” Guardiola said.

“It’s sad. We will see tomorrow if he’s able mentally and physically to play.”

Ultimately, Guardiola has decided Haaland is ready to lead a three-pronged attack, flanked by Jack Grealish and returning Brazil winger Savinho, who missed out at West Ham due to a knee complaint.

England duo Kyle Walker and John Stones are starting in defence for the first time this season, while Ilkay Gundogan is making the first start of his second spell at City. Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol are part of a strong bench.

Haaland chasing hat-trick record

If Haaland claims another matchball against Brentford, he will become only the fifth player in English football history to score hat-tricks in three consecutive matches and the first since 1946.

Liverpool’s Jack Balmer plundered trebles against Portsmouth, Derby County and Arsenal 78 years ago. Tottenham’s Frank Osborne (1925), Leeds United’s Tom Jennings (1926) and Everton great Dixie Dean (1928) are the other players to complete the treble-treble.

Man City starting 11 vs. Brentford (3-3-3-1, right to left): Ederson (GK) — Walker, Stones, Akanji — Kovacic, Gundogan, Lewis — Savinho, De Bruyne, Grealish — Haaland.