Joe Cole claims Erling Haaland can make 52 goals a season a REGULAR part of his game… with Norwegian star’s brace against Young Boys ensuring ‘order restored’ after blanking in first two group games

• MATCH REPORT: Erling Haaland scores twice as Man City defeat Young Boys
• Those goals mean that Haaland has now been directly involved in 115 goals across his last 100 appearances in all competitions at club level 
• Follow Mail Sport’s Champions League WhatsApp channel for all the big news 

Joe Cole believes that 52 goals a season is a realistic annual target for Erling Haaland at Manchester City.  

Haaland, who hit a brace in Switzerland against Young Boys on Wednesday night to take his season total to 11 goals, failed to score in City’s first two group stage games but ignited in Bern.  

His finishes, one of which came from the penalty spot, means the Norwegian has been directly involved in 115 goals across his last 100 appearances in all competitions at club level – 96 goals and 19 assists.

For Cole, it is not unrealistic to think Haaland can make 52 goals a season a ‘regular’ occurrence moving forward.  

‘I think that 52 goals a season will be a regular thing for him,’ Cole said on TNT Sports. ‘There’s no let up in his movement and he’s the outstanding striker in world football.’

Erling Haaland bagged a brace as Manchester City swept Young Boys aside in Switzerland

The Norwegian is off the mark in this season’s Champions League with his second half brace

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Haaland could not stop scoring last season and so to see him go scoreless in opening Champions League group stage matches against Red Star Belgrade and RB Leipzig – given he played 90 minutes in each – felt out of character.

His brace in Switzerland, however, means it is ‘business as usual’, according to Cole. 

‘Order restored,’ the former Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder added. 

‘All is well. He snatched at a couple before that. He was good all night, kept his calm and took his goals well. Man City are a well drilled top draw team I cant see no faults in them

‘They’re used to winning and they know what winning means and this was business as usual.’

Haaland’s manager Pep Guardiola knows the talent at his disposal and he is of the belief that the striker will not stop scoring.

‘People expect him to score four goals. People want him to fail. I’m sorry, he will score goals all his life,’ Guardiola said.

Joe Cole feels that Haaland can regularly pull off 52 goals a season, such is his finishing ability

Haaland was electric this season and he ignited in the second half away against Young Boys

‘We sometimes miss the ability of the players like Kevin De Bruyne to find the pass through and Ilkay Gundogan. But they had a lot of chances tonight. 

‘It is important that he [Haaland] has played as much as possible because he’s going to score until the last day he plays football.’

Haaland is arguably the best No 9 on the planet and former City defender Joleon Lescott played down the idea Haaland was starting to look anxious, instead suggesting expectation had simply soared to even greater heights.  

‘I think he’s being judged on his own standard, which are obviously high,’ Lescott chimed in.

‘At this stage last season he’d obviously had three or four hat-tricks and I think we’re anticipating that every week. 

‘The fact that he’s got 11 in 14 is a remarkable turn out for him.

‘Any forward would take that. I think we have to judge him on the standards of the league. He’s the top scorer in the league – he’s doing alright.’

City will now return to the UK and Haaland and Co will begin preparations to face neighbours Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.  

Haaland and Co return to the UK to prepare for Sunday’s Manchester Derby at Old Trafford

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