Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has delivered a positive update on the fitness of Oscar Bobb ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium.
The 21-year-old attacker was a standout performer for the Citizens during their pre-season tour of the United States last summer and was poised to feature regularly in the first team under Guardiola.
However, Bobb has been sidelined since the Community Shield last August after suffering a fracture to a bone in his leg during a non-contact situation in training.
The Norway international initially made a welcome return to partial training earlier this month and has since been building up has fitness ahead of making his long-awaited return to the first-team fold.
Bobb has not been involved in any of Man City's matchday squads since returning to training, but after more than five months out, the youngster could finally be ready for selection on Wednesday, according to Guardiola.
Providing a fitness update on his squad at a press conference on Tuesday, the Catalan said: "The guys who were there against Chelsea are there and I think Oscar came back as well."
PEP 💬 (On injury updates) The guys who were there against Chelsea are available, and I think Oscar [Bobb] came back as well. pic.twitter.com/8O5EMV2FNP
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 28, 2025
Bobb, Stones in contention for Brugge clash
Guardiola has also issued an update on defender John Stones, who has only recently recovered from injury and came on in the second half of Man City's 3-1 Premier League win over Chelsea last weekend.
"[Stones] played 35 minutes [on Saturday] and played really well. We will see today how he feels," said the Citizens boss.
However, Man City will be without the services of Jeremy Doku (unspecified), Ruben Dias (abductor), Nathan Ake (muscle) and Rodri (ACL) as they all continue to recover from injury.
The 2023 Champions League winners are also unable to call upon new signings Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, as they are all ineligible to represent the Citizens at this stage of the competition - the former two were handed their full debuts against Chelsea.
Man City head into Wednesday's contest aware that they need to beat Belgian outfit Club Brugge in their final League Phase fixture if they wish to secure a last-16 playoff place.
The Citizens are in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time since 2012-13, as they currently sit in the elimination zone (25th) after accumulating just eight points from their seven matches.
Oliver Thomas
