Oscar could be Bobb on for starting role
AFTER his game-changing cameo against Sheffield United, Oscar Bobb could earn another City start this weekend against Huddersfield in the FA Cup.
Bobb is a permanent fixture in the Blues first-team squad these days, with Pep Guardiola admitting he wanted to start the Norwegian last weekend but ultimately decided to stick with Jack Grealish.
Fifty minutes in, with Grealish not making the impact he hoped, Bobb came on and proved vital in unlocking the defence and sealing three important points for City.
With an FA Cup clash up next to start 2024, Bobb could be one of many changes from Guardiola as the looks to rest some key players and ease others back in.
There is an argument to give Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez a final game at number ten and number nine before Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland come back, and give De Bruyne his first minutes since August in the second half. This is also an opportunity to rest Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker after a busy run, while Jack Grealish could drop to the bench after a difficult couple of weeks in his personal life.
Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes are fine alternatives to hold the midfielder together, with Rico Lewis, Sergio Gomez and Stefan Ortega all likely to play. Kalvin Phillips would hope to start, but may not be risked if he is set for an exit this month.
In defence, this could be a chance to test Josko Gvardiol in the centre, and then Manu Akanji can offer some experience. After that, there is a chance to use some academy players off the bench rather than other first-teamers.
First, Micah Hamilton may earn a second start after his electric debut in the Champions League last month on the right wing. Bobb scored that night, too, and it’s a system that could be repeated against Huddersfield. Hamilton was in the Club World Cup squad in Saudi Arabia, and has featured in firstteam training and other matchday squads since.
Mahamadou Susoho came off the bench against Red Star for his debut, and also made the bench four times since, and could be called upon as a substitute this weekend – especially if Rodri is rested and Phillips may not feature.
After that, Pep Guardiola admitted his regret at not being able to give a debut to Max Alleyne in Serbia, so could offer the centreback a belated call-up against the Championship side. Following that trio, City also took Justin Oboavwoduo, Joel Ndala and Jacob Wright to Saudia Arabia, with those players now familiar faces around the first team. Left-back Tom Galvez and versatile defender Lakyle Samuel have also been spotted in senior training in the last fortnight. Galvez already has two senior caps with Finland before making his club debut for City, or anyone else on loan.
With respect to Huddersfield, they sit one place above the Championship relegation places and their focus will not be the FA Cup. City have five current or former
academy players on loan at clubs in the top six in the Championship, with two others earning promotion from that division last season.
It’s fair to say, then, that the level of City’s best youngsters is similar to a top-end Championship player, so Guardiola will know he can trust this year’s EDS stars to show what they are capable against Huddersfield on Sunday.