Bristol City manager Gary Johnson has assured Jamie McCombe he still has a future with the Championship club.

Sidelined by injury since the end of November, the big central defender will play no further part in City's season after being told to rest his troublesome knee.

But Johnson has been quick to counter any suggestion that the Yorkshireman might be on his way out of Ashton Gate in the summer.

He said: "Jamie signed a new deal a few months ago and is under contract until the end of next season.

"We don't always say when players have extended their contracts, but I think we need to in this instance. He had had a really good spell and we wanted to keep him and the other lads happy.

"Every now and again a situation occurs where someone is really unlucky and that is the case with Jamie. He's signed a contract and then been ruled out by long-term injury.

"But we are looking after him, he has time on his side and I'm sure we will see him back playing in the future."

Utility player Brian Wilson is another player currently recovering from long-term injury and Johnson demonstrated his loyalty to the former Cheltenham Town man by offering him a contract extension at the end of last season.

He said: "Jamie and Brian have both been good servants to this football club and we want to look after the pair of them and reassure them.

"Jamie is gutted about what has happened. Like everyone else in the dressing room, he is desperate to play, but he just feels he is unable to do that until this problem has cleared up fully."

McCombe recently entered hospital to have an exploratory orthopaedic scope inserted in his troublesome knee. But the operation failed to yield a diagnosis and his injury remains something of a mystery to the Ashton Gate medical staff.

Johnson explained: "Although the specialist has had a look and a scan has shown up no structural damage to the knee, Jamie still feels there is a problem.

"We've given him every opportunity to get over it, but it looks as though it is going to require more time.

"First of all, he needs time to get over having a scope inserted in his knee and then he will need more time to get over the injury itself.

"We cannot put a name to the problem and the cameras were unable to find anything obvious. But if Jamie says there is a problem, then there must be one.

"We're already into February and time is running out for him this season. By the time he has rested and then got himself back to match fitness, the season will be all but over.

"He's been missed and we could do with him being ready right now. But that is not going to happen and the sensible option seems to be to write off the rest of the season and make sure he is going to be okay in the long run."

Meanwhile, yesterday's City reserve match at Swansea was called off due to a frozen pitch.