Bristol City's fight against relegation has suffered a major blow after Marvin Elliott was last night ruled out for the rest of the season.

The influential midfielder snapped an Achilles tendon in a freak accident while training yesterday.

Elliott, pictured, will not require surgery, but has been told by medics to rest for at least the next four months.

The news is a massive blow for the club and manager Derek McInnes, whose team lie fives places of the foot of the Championship table and are engaged in a real battle to avoid the drop.

Mcinnes said: "I am absolutely devastated by what has happened to Marvin and this is a major blow for him and the team.

"Marvin wanted to play a major part in keeping us up between now and the end of the season, but will now have to sit it out.

"The injury came out of the blue. He was just running when he pulled up suddenly in a lot of pain.

"We had the medical staff look at him immediately to assess the injury and it is the worst possible outcome."

Elliott is a key figure in City's team and his influence in the centre of midfield will be greatly missed.

The Robins rely on the Londoner to make runs from deep and support the strikers, while his height makes him invaluable when attacking and defending set pieces.

Elliott's injury has compounded a bad week for City, who also lost centre-back Stephen McManus, pictured, to injury.

The defender will miss Saturday's home game against Blackpool owing to the thigh strain he sustained at Peterborough.

Fellow defender Lewin Nyatanga, pictured, has yet to fully recover from the ankle problem that has been troubling him since the turn of the year and could also be sidelined.

All of which leaves McInnes sweating on the fitness of club captain Louis Carey.

The veteran central defender has missed the last four games with a calf injury, but is expected to return to training later this week and could be pressed into action against the Seasiders.

Signed on loan from Middlesbrough last week, former Celtic defender McManus will be sidelined for a week.

McInnes said: "It was the best case scenario really.

"We knew he would miss Saturday, but to learn he won't be sidelined for long is a bonus."

Meanwhile, veteran left-back Jamie McAllister has returned to Ashton Gate after his loan spell with Preston North End came to end at the weekend.

The Scot will train with City's first-team during the remainder of this week and will available for selection on Saturday.

The 33-year-old left-back has yet to feature under current City boss McInnes.

City Reserves won 4-1 agains Swindon Reserves yesterday in a behind-closed-doors friendly.