Marvin Elliott and Neil Kilkenny lined up for return against Huddersfield Town
Marvin Elliott and Neil Kilkenny have returned to training and could feature when Bristol City take on Huddersfield at the John Smiths Stadium on Saturday.
With just four first-team starts between them, the midfield pair have scarcely featured in City's Championship campaign this season.
Having finally recovered from the ruptured Achilles tendon that ruled him out for the final two months of last season, Elliott suffered a groin injury after fighting his way back into the team and starting back-to-back away games at Peterborough and Watford in September.
He underwent a hernia operation last month – and has missed City's last six games.
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Kilkenny has struggled with injury since sustaining a hamstring problem during pre-season and was forced back onto the sidelines after playing in games against Leeds and Millwall.
But both returned to training this week and are now pressing their claims for inclusion in the squad to face Huddersfield.
An unused substitute during last Saturday's home defeat to Hull, Elliott is in with a chance of starting this weekend, while Kilkenny, a little behind in his fitness, could be in contention for a place on the bench, affording City manager Derek McInnes increased options within a squad that has been ravaged by injury.
At least the sickness bug that laid a number of players low over the weekend appears to be under control.
Jody Morris, Stephen McManus and Steven Davies have all recovered, while goalkeeper Dean Gerken and midfielder Bobby Reid missed training earlier this week as a precaution.
McInnes, though, is still sweating on the fitness of centre-back James Wilson, who reported with a stiff neck and back and was forced to sit out the last game.
Given that Liam Fontaine and Louis Carey are both sidelined with injury, McInnes is short of central defensive options and had no choice but to field the unwell McManus alongside Lewin Nyatanga against Hull.
If Wilson fails to recover in time for Saturday's game in Yorkshire, McManus and Nyatanga will be the only two centre-backs left standing.
Loan signing Matthew Briggs is again likely to feature at left-back in the continued absence of the injured Greg Cunningham.
City have 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, while 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.
"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 Championship rivals Bolton before linking up with City, while midfielder Dobie (ex-Middlesbrough and Everton) and striker Ajala (former Hayes & Yeading) complete the sextet.
Comments
by RedNemesis1
Saturday, November 03 2012, 12:37PM
“RFM- noted
So Keith Millen is appointed assistant manager at Crystal Palace under Ollie.
I'm really pleased for him and he did much for City without the budget/support given to his successor or predecessors. Good luck Millie so long as it's not against BS3.
Thinking about it..... Tinnion and Millen both truly loyal to City really got dumped on by SL whereas outside appointments don't. Moral being: don't go for the cheap option and Louis Carey- never take the job.”
by piledriver
Saturday, November 03 2012, 12:32PM
“@redferryman1:
The squad isn't dross and we have some decent players in Adomah & Davies, however there aren't enough stand out players and the I would describe the squad as average or 6/10 players with not enough 8's and no nines and tens.
That being said if we signed two key players in a creative midfuelder like Whittigham at Cardiff and a commanding RCB, things could change quite quickly.The issue is that Del hasn't been close on the RCB and doesn't feel we need the midfielder.”
by redferryman1
Saturday, November 03 2012, 11:46AM
“RedNemesis 1
Cherish this rare moment - and make a note in today's entry of your diary - of unity and fraternity!”
by rocketbob
Saturday, November 03 2012, 11:38AM
“we have strenghtened the squad overall, but we know Skuse and Elliot in midfield hasn`t worked before. We know Kilkenny wont close down or tackle, which means to accomodate him one of our forwards must go. Disappointing with Davies. Stead, Baldock and Taylor all playing well.Huddersfield have let in a fistfull og goals lately. Seems to me attack should be the best policy for this game.Also with Kilkenny and Elliot returning from injuries they will probably not last the ninety minutes.This is probably one of the hardest team selection decisions that the manager has had to make. Lets hope he gets this one right.......he is due a bit of good luck!”
by RedNemesis1
Friday, November 02 2012, 8:14PM
“There we have it RFM, after about 6 seasons of sparring we have managed to publicly agree for the second time! Actually quite a good time for fans to unite behind the club, it really isn't all bad but we're all battle worn pretty much since the Wind**** goal at Wembley. We really haven't had much to cheer about since; beyond staying up and that's a pretty pyrrhic celebration.
Imho I think that despite our dire position we really do have the basis of a good Championship team and we just need the couple of missing players.”
by redferryman1
Friday, November 02 2012, 6:12PM
“RedNemesis 1
I fully agree with you! To describe our squad as 'dross' is crass stupidity and a barely merits a reply! Admittedly, this present squad is not 'the finished article' (i.e. the perennial issue of a having to strengthen the defence), but we have the nucleus of a good set of players who can acquit themselves in the Championship.
Play these new lads, by all means, but only if they are better than what we have already! Otherwise, what do you achieve by introducing radical change just for the sake of it? There has to be some basis of sensible logic for any change. Methinks 'knee-jerk' reactions is the logic (sic) of panic...the last damn thing we want just now!”
by piledriver
Friday, November 02 2012, 5:06PM
“"Ravaged by injury?"
Rot.
Not counting the U21 Players, we have had 26 players with 3-5 injured.That's why we have squads and we aren't the only club withinjuries.”
by RedNemesis1
Friday, November 02 2012, 9:12AM
“AussieG- well said.
Theirons- fair point- I wouldn't worry too much if Dean goes in between the sticks however it's always a problem that if you drop a first team regular his confidence takes a nose dive and it appears that confidence is an absent member of our team.
P.s What's a "nakesake"- sounds like a japanese drink to me”
by RedNemesis_1
Friday, November 02 2012, 1:31AM
“I suggest it would be a risk playing both Marvin and Killer on Saturday seeing as both haven't played in a while.
I don't have as much faith in Tom Heaton as my nakesake. To me he looks a touch on the short side for a GK and while he can be a good shot stopper, he doesn't dominate his box enough for me and his communication with the back four appears suspect.
I don't think he is any better than Gerks, and I'd even say that Gerks is a better all round keeper IMO.”
by THEIRONS
Thursday, November 01 2012, 10:16PM
“Hopefully good news for City supporters , some much needed quality should be added by their return .In Elliotts case adding some much needed protection to the inadequate back four . Kilkenny will hopefully supply some incisive through balls to the more than adequate forward line , but will Mciness play him , hopefully for you City supporters he does.”