Bristol City receive major injury boost ahead of Leicester City but doubt remains over duo

Matty James' injury coincided with Bristol City's poor run of form across late February and into March

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11:54, 26 MAR 2024

Bristol City midfielder Matty James celebrates scoring at Middlesbrough last month (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

Bristol City head coach Liam Manning has revealed that experienced midfielders Matty James and Joe Williams are “on track” to return against Leicester City on Good Friday.

James has been sidelined for the last five games with an achilles problem for which he’s undergone injections to try and treat the issue and the 32-year-old was back in full training on Monday in anticipation of the visit of his former club to Ashton Gate.

Williams, meanwhile, missed the 2-0 defeat at West Brom prior to the international break due to a stiff hamstring and has also resumed work at the High Performance Centre.

Their availability will be a huge boost to Manning given City are in the midst of a challenging run of five defeats in their last six games leading to grower supporter unrest towards the club and head coach. James’ absence, not just as a midfield presence but in his leadership and organisation, has been keenly felt given the Robins’ record over the games he’s missed.

“Yeah, they're still on track," Manning told bcfc.co.uk. "Jamo is a little ahead of Joe, Jamo is in full training so we'll see how he is and Joe's doing some training as well, so hopefully by the end of the week we'll see them.”

City’s squad and Mannings options for selection should be significantly boosted for the weekend as, following the game against Leicester, City travel to Plymouth Argyle on Easter Monday.

Right-back George Tanner and on-loan playmaker Scott Twine both made appearances off the bench at The Hawthorns after injury layoffs and the only definite absentees will be Sam Bell and Rob Atkinson (both hamstring) and Kal Naismith (calf), although the Robins are also waiting on Mark Sykes and Jason Knight to return from international duty with the Republic of Ireland.

Sykes was an unused substitute against Belgium on Saturday, while Knight played the final 20 minutes, but both could be involved in tonight’s friendly against Switzerland at the Aviva Stadium. With Wednesday spent travelling and recovering, it gives them just a day and one full session at the HPC before Leicester.

“Ireland have obviously got a game so that brings a different challenge, depending on what they do in the game, and will return back on Wednesday but obviously with the Tuesday-Friday, it’s not ideal scheduling but is one that’s consistent for everybody so is something we’ll have to make a decision and see depending on what Tuesday looks like,” Manning added.

Scotland Under-21 internationals Tommy Conway and Dire Mebude, meanwhile, are back in Bristol after playing in the 4-1 win over Kazakhstan last Thursday.