Manchester City aren't quite Manchester City at the moment.
Pep Guardiola's side drew 2-2 with Brighton on Saturday in the Premier League to remain fifth in the table as they chase Champions League qualification for next season. There are nine games remaining and City remain in a strong position to ensure they dine at Europe's top table come next term.
But they are making hard work of it. One point from the last two games has hampered their progress and a clutch of clubs are queuing up behind the Blues in a congested battle.
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City need a spark and one man who could provide it in the closing weeks of the campaign is fit-again Oscar Bobb. The Norway international was the standout performer on the club's pre-season tour of America and featured in the Community Shield win over Manchester United in August.
But a fractured leg suffered in training meant a lengthy spell on the sidelines and a couple of minor setbacks stretched that absence past the six-month mark. The 21-year-old is now back in the fray and played an hour for City's Under-21s in defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
With a two-week gap to build his fitness before the resumption of the domestic calendar, Bobb could come into contention in the run-in. If he does, City will be getting a player who can unlock defences and provide out of nothing.
As City Under-21 boss Ben Wilkinson said after watching his return: "His quality with the ball at his feet is unparalleled. He’s never going to lose the quality
“Obviously it’s massive for the club to have Oscar back. He was in such a good place in August when he got injured and it was a real disappointment for everyone because I think that there was a feeling about him that he could have a real positive impact this season.
“So, it’s fantastic to get him back on a football pitch and to get some match minutes into him. It has been a long, hard slog for him and hopefully he starts to rebuild some confidence in his body and getting back to where we know he’s capable of being.
“I think all he needs now is time to train and time to get some minutes under his belt and to feel comfortable on a pitch again. Both physically and mentally, it’s just to give him time to get back to where he was.”
