-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
Pep Guardiola expects a swift return for Oscar Bobb – as soon as he feels free of pain.
The 21-year-old has missed the whole campaign so far after picking up an leg fracture on the eve of the Premier League start, having provided an assist for Bernardo Silva in the Community Shield victory to top off a fine pre-season. Guardiola has regularly lamented the absence of the player, who he called the best player in the squad for pressing high up the pitch.
Bobb is not yet ready for a return but stepped up his recovery this week by taking part in some of the training sessions City had ahead of their FA Cup third-round tie at home to Salford. Guardiola said that the player is still cautious in his head about the injury he has suffered, but is optimistic about how quickly he can return to shape physically.
READ MORE: Man City line up vs Salford City predicted as Pep Guardiola wish granted and Erling Haaland call made
READ MORE: Man City always expected me to fail – until Pep Guardiola changed my career
“It’s in his head,” said Guardiola. “He’s a guy who says, ‘maybe I have pain here’. When he’s free here, with his physicality I don’t think he needs much time to get fit or get ready. I don’t have that feeling.
“I think it’s the first long, long injury Oscar had. But it’s important, the last two days, make a partial training session. And it’s good news for us.
“We saw in a few things his special qualities that he showed us in the pre-season. And yeah, come the second part of the season hopefully he can be able to help us.”
Bobb could have some extra competition when he returrns to first team action, with City keen to sign Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush in the January window. The Blues are also pushing to complete deals for defenders Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.