BRISTOL City have been boosted by news that neither Nicky Maynard or Danny Haynes will need surgery.

Both strikers missed the club's pre-season trip to Sweden to seek specialist advice on knee and groin/thigh problems respectively.

Assistant boss Keith Millen said: "The news is good, neither require any surgery. They will just continue their rehabilitation in England and we look forward to seeing them on our return."

"They are two strikers who scored the majority of our goals last season, so any team is going to miss them. But we have to make sure we don't rush them back and give them time to recover."

In their absence, new signing Albert Adomah scored City's opening goal of pre-season in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with IFK Gothenburg.

The former Barnet man insisted that his long range half-volley was no fluke, having scored a similar goal against AFC Wimbledon in the past.

And new manager Steve Coppell is impressed with his recruit.

"He looked promising all night," he said. "He's got good pace and he runs with the ball well and showed some real promise. There was a lot of good play around him.

"There were good combinations and width with Ivan Sproule running with the ball. It makes a difference when you have players comfortable in possession."

The Gothenburg game saw City's young left-back Danny Ball make his maiden appearance for the first-team as a late substitute. The Bristolian came through unscathed, which was a plus considering some of his travails for the reserve and youth teams last season.

He said: "Last year I got knocked out twice. I went blind in my eye, I broke my nose and fractured my cheekbone, all putting my head in where it hurts. As a defender, that is what you have to do."

City take on Swedish league leaders Helsingborgs tonight in their second friendly and expect a tougher test than the Gothenburg clash.

Goalkeeper Dean Gerken is expected to feature after sitting out Tuesday's match when Stephen Henderson completed 90 minutes.

The former Colchester man has already noticed differences in managerial style from Gary Johnson's Ashton Gate tenure. He said: "Every manager brings their own bits and bobs and it is more laid back and seems a bit more organised, so everything looks good.

"I am looking forward to the start of the season – it's a new era for the club and we are looking to finish as high as we can."

Coppell's new temporary addition to the coaching staff, sport science expert Kunle Odetoyinbo, seems keen to become a more permanent fixture.

Odetoyinbo runs his own consultancy and worked with Coppell at Reading.

Initially with the club for the six weeks of pre-season, he said: "If the club would like to keep me on for longer, we will consider that at that stage."