Bristol City have been dealt a blow with the news that winger Ivan Sproule has been ruled out for three weeks.

The Northern Ireland international has strained a hamstring and will not feature for the Robins until next year.

Sproule sparked City's first win in six games when he opened the scoring with a wonder goal in the 3-1 victory at Leicester last week.

But the former Hibs star was forced off injured at Doncaster on Saturday and City went on to lose 1-0.

Manager Gary Johnson does not have a like-for-like replacement for the speedy Ulsterman in his squad.

Johnson said: "Our medical staff have sent Ivan for a scan and it has shown up a strain. It's likely he'll be out for around three weeks. Everyone's really disappointed for Ivan, especially as he had only just got back into the team. We'll give all the time needed for recovery."

City host struggling Reading on Saturday and the news of Sproule's absence will probably guarantee a recall for midfielder Evander Sno, who is available again after suspension.

Whether that will be the only change for from the Robins side beaten in Yorkshire remains to be seen.

In the longer term, assistant boss Keith Millen insists there is no reason why Sproule should not feature regularly in Bristol City's side during the second half of the season.

Referring to the loss suffered by Sproule and his wife when their second child was stillborn at the end of October, Millen sought to explain why the Irishman had been held back for so long.

He said: "Ivan had his personal problems recently and we wanted to give him time to get over that.

"After what he had gone through, we had to be really patient with him and wait until he was ready.

"He told us he felt ready for the Leicester game, we thought he was probably fit enough and it seemed the perfect time to give him a game. We couldn't have asked for any more from him.

"I thought he worked his socks off at Leicester and the goal he scored was outstanding.

"He went on an amazing run, beat four defenders and came up with an unbelievable finish.

"We know Ivan can do that, because we see it in training sometimes.

"But he also knows he has to be more consistent and there is sometimes a problem with his final ball.

"On his day, he can be a match-winner, but we also need slightly more of an end product from him at times and we've told him that.

"If he does that, then there is no reason why he cannot stay in the team

"If people play to their strengths and do what we ask of them, then they stay in the team. It's as simple as that."

Bristol City were due to play Exeter in a reserve league fixture at Ashton Gate yesterday but that was postponed as a young line-up beat Cinderford in the Gloucestershire Cup the previous night.