Manchester City injury news ahead of their Premier League game with West Ham after Oscar Bobb picked up an injury
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola
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Pep Guardiola confirmed that Oscar Bobb suffered a hamstring injury against Brentford that could leave Manchester City without seven players for the West Ham game. Bobb came back into the team for the Carabao Cup quarter-final with Brentford but pulled up early in the first half and had to be replaced by Phil Foden.
Jeremy Doku suffered a muscle injury last week that has forced him out of the last two matches, while Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri left for their African Cup of Nations after the Crystal Palace game. Mateo Kovacic is a long-term injury and it is not certain if Rodri or John Stones will be fit enough to be considered for the weekend.
City manager Guardiola was able to say what injury Bobb had, but could not give a timeframe on his recovery or return. "After 10 to 15 minutes he complained about the muscular rhythm," he said. "Apparently it's a hamstring. Hopefully it's not a big one and he can be back soon."
Despite the early blow, City shrugged it off to win 2-0 and Guardiola was delighted with how a much-changed team had performed. Three weeks after the disaster against Leverkusen, there were more signs of a squad that is learning on the go and they are now just two teams away from winning silverware again.
"As much as you play important and decisive games like finals or important games in Europe you learn. Against Leverkusen we were not ready but when we scored a goal in Madrid we were not ready too for the players who play regularly. It is not a problem with that player, it is a question of everyone to understand," the manager said.
"Today, everyone was trying. Oscar wants the ball and Rico wants it. After, you can make mistakes. It is man-marking and not easy to play but who is not going to struggle with Brentford it's difficult and tough but we didn’t concede many chances. We control the game with a false nine, without a proper striker to try to make a lot of passes and we deserve to be in the semi-final."