Manchester City have been left rocked after young winger Oscar Bobb fractured a bone in his leg on the eve of the new season.
Bobb, 21, looks set for months on the sidelines after suffering the injury in training ahead of City’s opener against Chelsea on Sunday.
The Norwegian has been a shining light of City’s pre-season and was player of the match during Saturday’s Community Shield victory over Manchester United.
Bobb was expected to be given the nod on the right wing at Stamford Bridge and then handed a chance to make the spot his own within Pep Guardiola’s preferred starting XI.
City are yet to fully assess the damage but sources said Bobb appears to have avoided the severest leg break.
Oscar Bobb is set to miss several months worth of action after fracturing a bone in his leg
A definitive timescale is likely to follow in the coming days.
The news comes as a significant blow to Guardiola and City may now re-think their strategy in the transfer market.
They were unlikely to land a new attacking face, even in light of Julian Alvarez’s departure to Atletico Madrid, but could be forced to hunt for a winger.
Brazil international Savinho and Bernardo Silva Guardiola’s options on the right, although the latter had been earmarked for a more central role this term.