Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has explained the stunning progress of Oscar Bobb this season.

Bobb proved the matchwinner for City at Newcastle on Sunday.

“Txiki [director of football Txiki Begiristain] at the end of last season said to me that in the Under 23s [last season] Oscar Bobb was the best player by far and I said: 'OK [he'll] go to Japan [on our summer tour] to start to train with us'," Guardiola told City's website.

“And immediately Oscar got something that is the most important thing. That is to rely on his mates.

“It's more important than relying on the manager. When the mates can say: 'OK - this player can play with us', that is the best success.

“And it was immediately. He can play in five positions, striker, right wing, left, in the pockets... [he is] so dynamic and the work ethic is unbelievable.

“Here [at Newcastle] in the Carabao Cup in the first half of that game he was outstanding the way he played, and he doesn't feel much the pressure.

“I don't know what happens with players in the Academy, look at Cole Palmer - he is doing really well at Chelsea and I'm so happy for him and all the players [like] Rico [Lewis] and Phil [Foden].

“And it's important for us and for the Club to bring players [through] from the Academy and help us you know.

“When Jack [Grealish] has had problems this season and John Stones and now Manu [Akanji], Kevin [De Bruyne] and Erling [Haaland] out, an important part of the season is November and December with a lot of games and important players were not there and Oscar helped us.

“That is great, it's really, really great.

“We have another player for many years for us if he decides to stay as for now he is happy with his minutes like Cole Palmer was happy with his minutes.

“But after two or three years they want more and it's natural, its completely understandable and maybe I don't give them the minutes and they decide to go.

“If he decides to stay, we have a player for many, many years."