Bristol City expect to have almost a fully fit squad available when Lincoln City visit Ashton Gate on Tuesday, although striker Elijah Adebayo is not yet ready to start.
Former Imps boss Michael Skubala confirmed there were no fresh injury concerns following Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Southampton. However, Brian De Keersmaecker and Luke McNally look likely to miss out again as they continue working towards a first-team return.
For the Robins, managing their available players is also a consideration, with our visit followed by another fixture on Friday and a further game next Tuesday.
“It was a tough game on Saturday, physically a tough game on the road again,” Skubala explained.
“We’ve got two home games now, which is great, but having a Friday night instead of Saturday does make it slightly different. I think health-wise, at the minute, we’re ok.”
Adebayo has been on the bench for Bristol City’s last three matches, making substitute appearances against Burnley and Southampton after remaining unused against Preston North End.
The 28-year-old is available to feature against the Imps, but Skubala remains cautious about increasing his workload following a lengthy period disrupted by injury. The same careful approach applies to McNally, who could soon feature for the Under-21s, while De Keersmaecker is closer to first-team involvement.
“But again, with all these types of players that are coming back from big injuries, you have to look after them. It’s the same with Luke McNally; you’ll start, maybe, to see him get Under-21 minutes soon, but it won’t be quick to see him in the first team.
“Brian’s going to go and get some minutes as well; he’s probably a bit closer to the first team, because he’s not had a big injury. We’re in a good place, and we’re actually adding to the group slowly, which is excellent.
“But it’s the same with Elijah; even though he’s on the first-team bench, he’s actually working his way back physically.”
For the Imps, that means preparing for a Bristol City side with plenty of options despite their weekend defeat. Adebayo looks set to remain a potential threat from the bench, while Skubala must decide how best to use his squad during a busy run of fixtures.
Comments Welcome!