BRISTOL City manager Steve Coppell is fast gaining the reputation as a strong, silent type, according to the players.

As the first full-week of training begins at City, Coppell is cutting a rather different figure from his predecessor.

Whereas former manager Gary Johnson was always quick to make his thoughts known, Coppell's manner couldn't be more removed.

Bristolian Cole Skuse and his team-mates are eager to make a good first impression on the new manager.

Coppell has said very little to the players so far, preferring to watch from the touchlines while his coaching staff put his charges through their paces.

But midfielder Skuse knows he and his team-mates are constantly being assessed by the former Reading boss, who will make his first team selection when the Robins take on Gothenberg in their opening pre-season friendly in Sweden next Tuesday.

"We all know how important it is to make the right impression," he said.

"We're still very new to one another at this stage and it's given an extra edge to what we are doing in training.

"The manager is watching everything we do and assessing us and we are aware of that.

"We are learning what he is like, and he is learning about us at the same time. He is an unknown quantity to us and, because of that, the lads are not quite sure how they should be around him. But that can be a good thing and everyone is working hard.

"We are finding out how he likes things to be done and what it is he wants from us.

"I'm sure we will relax more as the days go by and we become familiar with Steve Coppell's ways and methods.

"But for now, everyone is a little bit nervous and wanting to show up well in training."

Having taken a watching brief while assistant manager Keith Millen put the players through their paces at the club's Failand training headquarters over the weekend, Coppell will become more involved as the squad prepares to fly out to Scandinavia on Sunday.

Skuse said: "We were all a bit worried about what might be in store for us when we reported back, because we didn't know about the new manager.

"But the sessions have not been as hard as we expected and they have been very enjoyable.

"The training we have done so far has involved quite a bit of ball work and the sessions have been short and sharp. He is trying to ease us back in gradually, which is a good thing.

"But we know the first game is just around the corner and that the workload is going to increase as we go along.

"Working with a new manager is keeping us on our toes and the lads are up for the challenge."

Defenders Jamie McAllister and Louis Carey and striker Marlon Jackson are nursing injuries and have yet to train, but are expected to rejoin the squad some time this week.

But Christian Ribeiro and James Wilson will be sidelined for a longer period with back and knee problems respectively and Coppell will assess their fitness before deciding whether to take them to Sweden.