Man City star returns to first-team training after lengthy spell out with injury – with Pep Guardiola handed major boost ahead of Tottenham clash
- Oscar Bobb has returned to first-team training ahead of Man City’s trip to Spurs
- The Dane was on track to return earlier this month before suffering a setback
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Manchester City have been handed a major boost ahead of their important trip to Tottenham on Wednesday, with Oscar Bobb returning to first-team training after six months on the sidelines.
Mail Sport reported last month how Bobb, 21, was on the brink of a return — and now the Danish forward has been spotted in training with his Manchester City team-mates ahead of promises to be a crucial and defining period in the season.
City, who are already out of the Champions League following their play-off defeat against Real Madrid, are sitting fourth in the league ahead of Wednesday’s trip to north London, with only two points separating themselves and Newcastle, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Aston Villa below them.
While it may be too soon for Bobb to feature against Ange Postecoglou’s side, Pep Guardiola will be delighted to have an extra attacking player to call upon between now and the end of the campaign.
Bobb was set to become a breakout star for Pep Guardiola this season before fracturing a bone in his leg during a training session in August.
Oscar Bobb (left) has returned to City’s first-team training after six months on the sidelines
He had been on track to make a full return earlier this month before suffering another setback
Bobb, pictured with Erling Haaland (left), was set to become a breakout star for Pep Guardiola (right) this season before fracturing a bone in his leg during a training session in August
The Norway international had shone in pre-season and at the Community Shield, with Guardiola ready to give the 21-year-old a run as first-choice on the right wing.
City had expected the forward to return ahead of their FA Cup tie against Leyton Orient earlier this month, before Bobb unfortunately suffered a setback.
Guardiola also revealed that Erling Haaland remains a fitness doubt for City’s trip to Tottenham after missing the last two games.
City’s top scorer sat out defeats against Real Madrid and Liverpool after jarring his knee in the 4-0 win over Newcastle on February 15, and his absence has been telling with City struggling to turn their dominance of possession into chances in Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday he was optimistic the 24-year-old will be available in north London on Wednesday night but no decision has yet been taken.
‘Tonight, we will know it after training,’ Guardiola said. ‘I hope so but I don’t know yet.
‘He feels better but the last two games he could not play. We’ll see tomorrow.’
Spurs remain a bogey team for Guardiola and City, particularly away from home, as City have won only two of their eight games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
