Bristol City boss Sean O'Driscoll is set to make his move in the loan market
Bristol City head coach Sean O'Driscoll will seek to bolster his squad when the window for emergency loans opens again tomorrow.
O'Driscoll has made just one permanent addition to his squad since succeeding Derek McInnes last month, recruiting right-back Brendan Moloney on a free transfer from Nottingham Forest.
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Sean O'Driscoll
The 55-year-old Midlander is now expected to move quickly to supplement a squad that has been weakened by injury to key players – with a right-sided centre-half a priority after Louis Carey sustained a knee injury in last weekend's defeat at Blackburn.
Although the Bristolian's injury is not as serious as first feared, he remains a doubt for Saturday's Championship clash with Nottingham Forest at Ashton Gate.
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Stephen McManus has returned to Middlesbrough, Matthew Bates is out of contract and, if Carey fails to recover in time, James Wilson will be the only right-sided centre-back available to O'Driscoll.
Wilson replaced the injured Carey at Ewood Park last Saturday and was at fault for Blackburn's second goal, scored by Jordan Rhodes.
O'Driscoll has already confirmed his intention to do business in the loan window and he is scouring the market for a dominant central defender.
An alternative option might be to offer Bates another short-term deal. The former Middlesbrough defender only recovered from a flu bug a week ago, since when O'Driscoll has been assessing him in training. City could also field Lewin Nyatanga alongside Liam Fontaine at the heart of the back four this weekend. But both are left-footed and O'Driscoll will want to avoid unbalancing a defence that has kept just one clean sheet all season.
As things stand, Wilson is on standby should Carey fail a fitness test and O'Driscoll will be hoping the 24-year-old returns unscathed from international duty with Wales.
Wilson was called into the Welsh squad for last night's friendly international against Austria at Swansea's Liberty Stadium.
Given that midfielders Cole Skuse and Neil Kilkenny are still out injured, Marvin Elliott's call-up to the Jamaica squad represents another headache O'Driscoll could do without.
Involved in last night's World Cup qualifying tie against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, Elliott faces a long return flight from Central America and is not expected back in Bristol until the early hours of tomorrow morning.
O'Driscoll has limited options available in the centre of midfield and will assess Elliott tomorrow before deciding whether he is ready to start against Forest the following day.
Bristol City midfielder Wes Burns marked his debut for Wales Under-21s by scoring the opening goal in a 3-0 home win against Iceland at Llanelli.
Substitute Burns, one of seven players to win their first caps, grabbed the opener with a dozen minutes to play, before Jonathan Williams and Robert Ogleby sealed a first victory for their manager Geraint Williams.
5 Comments
by piledriver
Friday, February 15 2013, 5:08PM
“15th Feb ans no loans in or out so defective journalism”
by piledriver
Thursday, February 07 2013, 7:13PM
“Missed messages or mixed journalism?
One article says he's not going to be rushed or fill gaps this one talks about strengthening?
Coppinger would be OK albeit Ithought he was more of a wide player?”
by CiderheadNott
Thursday, February 07 2013, 8:56AM
“Good on you Sean. We still need those centre halves and a midfield general, The squad is still weak and even though you've won the dressing room and the fans over City still have a huge fight to stay up.
I believe we can, but we will need to use every means at our disposal to do that - loan market included.
We must remain a Championship club.
League 1 is unacceptable for a city of Britol's size and status.
COYR”
by harryreg_uk
Thursday, February 07 2013, 8:39AM
“we need some big'uns at the back!”
by RedNemesis_1
Thursday, February 07 2013, 7:28AM
“Have it on good authority that James Coppinger will arrive on loan from Doncaster Rovers next week. He's an attacking midfielder and experienced at 32. I think SOD may even have taken him on loan at Forest last season.”