Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola provides Kevin De Bruyne injury update ahead of UEFA Champions League clash against Sparta Prague
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola provided an update on Kevin De Bruyne ahead of his team's UEFA Champions League meeting with Sparta Prague on Wednesday (October 23). The Belgian international has been missing for the Cityzens since September with a hamstring issue.
However, the Spanish coach has clarified that he's progressing but not completely fine at the moment. Speaking ahead of his side's midweek clash, Guardiola said (via @City_Xtra):
"No, it's not a big issue. But he doesn't feel completely fine and Kevin is not 22-years-old anymore, he has to be fit for his football.
"He has to be completely, completely fit and he doesn't feel comfortable at all. So he cannot express his incredible potential at his best, so that's why he's training a little bit better, but still he doesn't feel."
He added:
"He said to me, 'Still I don't feel good'. So if you don't feel good, take your time..."
Based on Guardiola's comments, it looks as though De Bruyne will not be available for Manchester City's upcoming UEFA Champions League tie. The Cityzens have been severely weakened in the middle of the park, playing without the Belgian and Rodri, who picked up an injury earlier in the season.
Before suffering the issue, the 33-year-old managed to make six appearances across competitions for the Cityzens, bagging a goal and an assist each. To date, he's made 388 appearances across competitions for the Manchester outfit, bagging 103 goals and 171 assists.
It will be interesting to see if De Bruyne can feature for Manchester City in their weekend Premier League match against Southampton on Saturday (October 26).
Pep Guardiola provides update on Oscar Bobb ahead of Manchester City's UEFA Champions League tie with Sparta Praha
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said Oscar Bobb is expected to return from injury around January or February of next year. The winger only managed to make one appearance this season.
Since the start of the campaign, he's been sidelined with a broken leg. While providing fitness updates on a number of players, including Rodri and Kyle Walker, Guardiola said about Bobb (via talkSPORT):
"Oscar I think January or February will be ready."
If he were fit, Bobb would have been competing with the likes of Savinho and Bernardo Silva for minutes on the right wing. To date, the Norway international has made 27 appearances across competitions for his club, bagging two goals and three assists.