Alan Shearer backs ‘beast’ Haaland for incredible feat as Man City striker makes goals pledge following sixth hat-trick

Alan Shearer feels Erling Haaland might reach sixty goals for the season after another hat-trick but the striker is refusing to set a target for himself.

Haaland, 22, has now found the net on an amazing 42 occasions in 2022-2023, with 28 of those coming in the Premier League. He needs just six more before the end of the campaign to match Shearer and Andy Cole’s record tally of 34. Having bagged five in City’s 7-0 Champions League thrashing of RB Leipzig on Tuesday evening, the Norwegian now has eight goals from two outings.

And he has notched six hat-tricks, with the latest coming in a 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final thrashing of Burnley.

This week’s European romp saw him almost complete a double hat-trick. Shearer has been mightily impressed.

And the former England hitman believes the ex-Borussia Dortmund star will end up with a ridiculous number of goals this term

“Haaland is a beast. He is a goalscoring machine. He lives and breathes goals,” he told BBC Sport.

“If he doesn’t score he doesn’t sleep at night. He wants another one, then another one, then another one.

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“He’s fantastic, and this team must be a dream with the chances they create.

“Haaland barely had a kick until the first goal. Man City didn’t play well in the first 30 minutes. He might get 50 goals, maybe even 60. It’s bonkers.”

Haaland unconcerned by goals total

Haaland has scored goals wherever he has played. He bagged 86 from 89 outings at Dortmund and 29 from 27 appearances for Red Bull Salzburg.

It is anyone’s guess as to how many he will end up with after his maiden season with Manchester City.

And the Scandinavian felt this week’s results have been perfect heading into the international period.

“It’s been a good couple of games – important games. 7-0 and 6-0 before the national team break is impressive. I’m really happy,” he told BBC Sport.

“Every goal for the team means a lot. It’s an amazing win against a really good Burnley side. I’m really happy and our next game is at Wembley.

“I think we’re in the part of the season where we should be at our best. Of course we should be at our best all the time, but we have to perform every single game.

“The last couple of games have been finals – that’s exactly what we’ve been doing.”

The Norway international has not set himself a goals target for the season but made it clear he has plenty more in the tank.

“No, I have not. I’m a striker, I love to score goals, but my focus is not on scoring goals but on getting the chances,” he added.

“If I get the chances, there’s a good chance I’ll score.”

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