“I don’t think he needs” – Pep Guardiola issues encouraging update on Oscar Bobb’s Manchester City return | OneFootball

Oscar Bobb may not need too much time to get back up to full match fitness and sharpness following recovery from injury, Pep Guardiola has explained.

The 21-year-old has been sidelined since last August after sustaining a shock leg bone fracture during a pre-Premier League outing training session at the City Football Academy, forcing the youngster to undergo surgery on the injury.

The ongoing season was tipped as being the breakthrough campaign for the Norway international, particularly after excelling during Manchester City’s pre-season tour of the United States last summer.

However, Bobb’s absence has meant that his return is now being viewed almost as a January signing, as Pep Guardiola and his squad look to get their season back on track following a torrid run of form across November and December.

And the versatile forward has taken significant steps forward and back towards a return to Manchester City action in recent days, joining up with his first-team teammates once again on the City Football Academy training pitches.

Discussing Oscar Bobb’s recovery from his leg break last summer and when the Norway international could make his return to Manchester City action, Pep Guardiola admitted that the 21-year-old may not need too much time.

“It’s the first long injury for Oscar Bobb but with his physicality I don’t think he needs too much time to get fit and to get ready,” Guardiola told a recent press conference.

“In the last two days (Wednesday and Thursday of last week), he made partial training and that’s good news for us,” the City boss continued. “In a few things he has special qualities that he showed us in pre-season. Come the second part and hopefully he can help us.”

For now, Pep Guardiola has not pinpointed a specific match that Oscar Bobb could make his return against, but there is plenty of football right around the corner for the Premier League champions to compete in across all competitions.

The UEFA Champions League has two matches remaining in the league phase against Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge, while Premier League clashes are coming up against Ipswich Town and Chelsea this month after a trip to Brentford on Tuesday night.