Don’t put Erl in the Prem Haal of fame just yet

ERLING HAALAND conquered Germany – but if he thinks he can lord it in the Premier League, he’s got another thing coming.

Last weekend was an uncomfortable taster for the Norwegian, who came up against the best defenders Europe has to offer.

And it may have been an off day – but on the evidence of what we saw in the Community Shield, he’s going to have to raise his game.

Eight first-half touches with two chances going begging and a late second-half gimme that was smacked into the crossbar hardly lived up to the hype.

Haaland (right) has been bludgeoning his way through life in the Bundesliga – but he’s going to be hard pushed to repeat the feat over here.

And, yes, the striker made his name on the back of his prowess in front of goal – but his main attributes are his strength and power.

Virgil van Dijk for the Merseysiders, Cristian Romero at Spurs and Chelsea’s Thiago Silva have enough of that to cope.

So, he’s going to find chances more difficult to come by than he did at Borussia Dortmund, where the quality of opposition is far inferior to that in the top flight here.

Domestically, German football has been in decline for the past few years – look at the results of Die Mannschaft if you don’t believe me.

Bayern Munich may have won the Champions League twice in the past dozen years – but they are one of the powerhouses.

As for the rest, it’s not even a debate. And when you’re the hottest striker in Europe, having been hand-picked to play in one of the world’s best teams, you need to hit the ground running.

OK, a dream competitive debut can turn into a nightmare as it did at the King Power Stadium last week.

It happens.

But the past couple of Bundesliga strikers in the Premier League are not inspiring much confidence, either – and both came for big, big money.

Kai Havertz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen and was expected to be the missing link for Chelsea.

He has his moments – like when he won the Champions League final – but that was a rare show of quality.

His last season yielded 14 goals in a team that challenged on every front.

Timo Werner was similarly lauded upon signing from RB Leipzig. Another costly recruit, another who is finding life far tougher over here.

In his last season in Germany, Werner clobbered 34 goals in 45 appearances. Here, he has collected 23 for Chelsea at a rate of one every four outings.

Let’s face it, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hasn’t targeted Haaland to wait for results.

It needs to happen for Manchester City. They won the title by a whisker last term. It’s shaping up to be a similarly tight dogfight this time out.

If Haaland doesn’t find his feet before the World Cup, it could be all over.

So, he needs to start with a bang. And continue firing.

Or else all the fanfare that’s followed his arrival at the Etihad could soon disappear – and with it are likely to go his club’s title ambitions.

Haaland has been bludgeoning his way through the Bundesliga but he’s going to be hard pushed to repeat the feat over here