Manchester City’s injury woes have deepened following the news that Oscar Bobb suffered a suspect muscle injury during Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup victory over Brentford.
The 22-year-old Norwegian winger, who was handed a rare start at the Etihad, lasted only 19 minutes before signaling to the bench and being replaced by Phil Foden.
The Official Word from Pep
Speaking in his post-match press conference on December 17, 2025, a concerned Pep Guardiola provided an early diagnosis of the situation:
"After 10 to 15 minutes he complained about the muscular rhythm. Apparently it's a hamstring injury. Hopefully it's not a big one and he can be back soon."
While the club is waiting for the results of a full scan, the initial signs are disappointing for a player who has spent much of the last 18 months fighting his way back to full fitness.
A Cruel String of Setbacks
For Bobb, this latest injury is particularly gutting given his recent history:
The 2024/25 Leg Fracture: Bobb missed nearly 200 days and 48 games after suffering a fractured leg just before the start of last season.
The Comeback Trail: Since returning in early 2025, he has struggled to reclaim his starting spot, often falling behind Jeremy Doku and new signing Rayan Cherki in the pecking order.
The Opportunity: The Brentford game was viewed as the perfect platform for Bobb to "remind everyone of his quality" during the hectic winter schedule.
Impact on the "Stretched" City Squad
Guardiola is now navigating a "massively important" festive period with a squad that is beginning to look thin. Bobb joins a growing list of absentees that currently includes:
Jeremy Doku (Muscular injury)
Mateo Kovačić (Long-term)
Rodri (Managed return from ACL)
Omar Marmoush (International duty/Injury)
With a Premier League clash against West Ham United looming this Saturday, Guardiola admitted he was forced to play Phil Foden for more minutes than he intended due to Bobb’s early exit.
The Transfer Complication
This injury also throws a wrench into recent transfer speculation. Reports earlier this week suggested that Crystal Palace were monitoring Bobb for a potential January move, with City reportedly valuing the winger at around £25 million. A prolonged spell on the sidelines could potentially derail any winter exit, keeping Bobb at the Etihad until at least the summer of 2026.
City fans will be holding their breath for the scan results. Would you like me to track the official "Potential Return Date" once it's released, or should I look into how City's attacking rotation will change for the West Ham game?