Manchester City receive positive updates on the fitness of Spain midfielder Rodri and Norway international Oscar Bobb.
Manchester City have been handed positive fitness updates on Rodri and Oscar Bobb.
Rodri has not played any competitive football since being withdrawn at half time of the Euro 2024 final due to a hamstring issue.
The Spain international was given extended time off and subsequently made a late start to his preparations for the 2024-25 campaign.
Man City have been taking a cautious approach with their star midfielder, giving him plenty of time to build up his fitness before he makes his first appearance of the new season.
As a result, Rodri was absent for Man City’s first three competitive matches, before being an unused substitute in Saturday’s 3-1 win over West Ham United.
© Imago
Man City receive Rodri, Bobb updates
Rodri has linked up with his international teammates for the current international window, although he was suspended for Thursday’s goalless draw against Serbia after being handed a one-match ban for his chants about Gibraltar at Spain’s Euro 2024 celebrations.
Speaking ahead of the UEFA Nations League opener, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente confirmed that Rodri has no fitness issues and that a decision is yet to be made over the extent of his involvement in Sunday’s meeting with Switzerland.
“Rodri is fine and was already called up for Manchester City’s last game,” De la Fuente told reporters. “We will assess before the Geneva [Switzerland] game whether he plays the entire game or just a little bit.”
Meanwhile, Norway head coach Stale Solbakken offered a positive update on Bobb, who suffered a leg fracture on the eve of the Premier League season and subsequently required surgery.
“He has been in rehabilitation in Barcelona and has been followed up, everything is fine,” Solbakken told the media ahead of Friday’s UEFA Nations League clash with Kazakhstan.
“I spoke with him on the phone 10 days ago, and he was surprisingly positive. He is counting down the days.”
© Imago
When will Bobb return to action?
While Bobb may be making progress in his rehabilitation, he still has plenty of work to do before he can return to competitive action.
The Norway international is expected to be out until around December, meaning that he could miss Premier League fixtures against the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
Bobb will also be absent for several Champions League fixtures, including Man City’s first European outing of the season against Italian champions Inter Milan on September 18.
The 21-year-old is currently joined on the sidelines by Phil Foden and Savinho, who have pulled out of their international obligations due to illness and injury respectively.
However, the pair will hope that they can prove their fitness in time for Man City’s Premier League home meeting with Brentford on September 14.