Bristol City boss Gary Johnson is resigned to losing the services of star striker Alvaro Saborio for next month's big Coca-Cola Championship showdown with West Bromwich Albion.

The Robins take on relegated Albion at The Hawthorns on Saturday, November 21 in a clash which could have a significant bearing on the promotion race. But they will almost certainly do so without Saborio, who has further World Cup business to attend to in the meantime.

Costa Rica face a play-off against Uruguay in their bid to make it to the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer. And Saborio, who netted twice as the Ticos beat Trinidad & Tobago 4-0 in San Jose last weekend, will again be called to lead his country's attack.

City's loan striker will jet back across the Atlantic immediately following the Championship fixture at Nottingham Forest on November 7 to prepare for the first leg of the play-off in San Jose seven days later.

Costa Rica will than travel to the Uruguayan capital Montevideo for the return game on Wednesday, November 18.

Given the time difference and distances involved, Saborio has little chance of being back in time to face West Brom three days later.

"It's one of those classic club versus country situations," said Johnson. "Alvaro has to go away again next month and there is nothing we can do about it.

"Playing for his country means a lot to him and he is desperate to reach the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

"I'm not complaining about our players being called up on international duty, because it's an honour and shows how far Bristol City has come in the last few seasons. But it does cause disruption at times and it doesn't look as though he will be back in time for the West Brom game."

Saborio's involvement in today's Championship fixture against Peterborough United at Ashton Gate was in doubt after he returned from his latest tour of international duty on the other side of the Atlantic.

City's loan signing from FC Sion played twice in four days against Trinidad and the United States before embarking on a 10-hour return flight to the United Kingdom.

Manager Johnson had hoped Costa Rica would secure automatic qualification for the Finals and his wish would have been granted had Jonathan Bornstein not scored an injury-time equaliser for the States in Washington DC in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Elsewhere, Honduras' 1-0 win over El Salvador consigned Costa Rica to the play-offs and effectively deprived City of a key player for one of the toughest assignments in the Championship calendar.

"I was following the games on the internet and keeping my fingers crossed that Costa Rica would qualify," said Johnson. "But that late goal did us no favours.

"I know how disappointed Alvaro will be. I'm disappointed as well."