Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola faces a fresh selection headache after young winger Oscar Bobb was forced off with an injury during Wednesday night's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford.
The 22-year-old Norwegian international, who has been plagued by fitness issues, had to be substituted in the first half of the match at the Etihad Stadium, casting a shadow over City's cup progression.
A Recurring Nightmare for City's Young Star
This latest problem is a cruel twist for Bobb, whose career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries. His most significant layoff came during the 2024/25 season when he suffered a fractured leg, an injury that kept him sidelined for a staggering 200 days and 48 games.
He only returned to action in March 2025 and has struggled to recapture the electrifying form he showed during his breakout 2023/24 campaign. This season, Bobb has managed just 457 minutes in the Premier League, starting only a handful of matches and falling behind Jeremy Doku in the pecking order for a wide attacking role.
The Moment of Concern Against Brentford
The incident occurred inside the opening 20 minutes of the cup tie. City's physio was seen attending to Bobb on the pitch, stretching out the player's leg. It quickly became apparent he could not continue, and he trudged off the field looking dejected.
Guardiola was compelled to make an early change, introducing Phil Foden in his place. Bobb's last goal contribution was an assist on the Premier League's opening day in a 4-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, highlighting his struggle for consistent involvement.
What This Means for City and Bobb's Future
The immediate extent of the injury is not yet known, with Guardiola expected to provide an update in his post-match press conference. For Bobb, this is another hammer blow in his bid to re-establish himself as a key figure for the champions.
His recent appearances have been limited, including being substituted at half-time during City's Champions League loss to Bayer Leverkusen after a disappointing performance. This new setback threatens to further stunt the rise of a player once considered one of the league's most promising talents.
In a separate incident during the same match, City defender Abdukodir Khusanov was fortunate to receive only a yellow card for a foul on Brentford's Kevin Schade. The absence of VAR in this round of the Carabao Cup likely saved the Uzbekistani from a red card. City later capitalised on their reprieve, taking the lead through a stunning goal from Rayan Cherki.
