Bristol City's under-21 squad bolstered by six new faces

BRISTOL City have further bolstered their under-21 development squad by signing up a further six players.

Already on short-term deals, Curtis Jones, Tom King and Kevin Krans have earned contracts until the end of the season.

And Nathan Battersby, Tobi Ajala and Luke Dobie have been offered terms until January after impressing in the club's Development League side.

Charged with the task of producing the next generation of City first team players, Academy head coach Willie McStay said: "We are delighted to add the new players and are confident they will further improve the quality we already have at this level.

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"The introduction of the Under-21 Development League has been a big boost to the football club and football as a whole up and down the country."

Once on Celtic's books, Jones is a utility defender, while former Stoke and Liverpool trainee King is a left-back who has been capped by Australia at under-20 level.

A forward with genuine pace and an eye for goal, Krans was previously with Fulham.

Defender Battersby spent time with npower Championship rivals Bolton Wanderers before linking up with City, while midfielder Luke Dobie (ex-Middlesbrough and Everton) and striker Tobi Ajala (former Hayes & Yeading) complete the sextet.

McStay added: "We've been working hard behind the scenes as a coaching staff along with our scouting network to enhance this level within the football club, and have been delighted with the performance of the squad so far.

"We are top of the league, which is a great achievement, and demonstrates the importance the club has placed on the new structure with regards to the future.

"The likes of Joe Bryan, Bobby Reid and Lewis Carey have been key to creating the standards and have set the benchmark for the other young players.

"Now we want to continue to develop the quality of the emerging talent, with the main aim to provide the manager with young players capable of playing in the first team over the coming seasons."