LIAM Fontaine rates new Bristol City team-mate Jon Stead one of the best strikers currently operating in the Championship.

City's talented centre-back has firsthand experience of marking Stead, who came up against the Robins on a number of occasions when playing for Sheffield United and Ipswich.

And he described the 27-year-old forward, who arrived from Ipswich on a three-year deal earlier this week, as a "real handful".

Stead is expected to make his City debut against his last club at Portman Road this afternoon and Fontaine expects him to make an immediate impact.

He said: "I've played against Jon several times and he's one of the most difficult opponents I've come up against.

"He's a real handful and I'm glad he's going to be on the same side from now on.

"People tend to look at him and tag him as a target-man, but there is a lot more to his game. Jon is deceptively quick for such a big man and he is also clever on and off the ball.

"He is good at turning defenders and creating room to get in shots, but he is just as strong in the air. As a defender, you have to be on your toes and concentrate fully for the entire 90 minutes.

"Make one slip and Jon has the ability and experience to hurt you, either by scoring a goal himself or by making one for someone else."

Stead and fellow striker Brett Pitman, signed from Bournemouth on Monday, could both be handed debuts at Portman Road today and Fontaine says the arrival of two proven strikers has come as a timely boost to a squad which has been hit hard by injury.

"When you see the club bringing in players like this, it reassures you that things are heading in the right direction," said the Londoner.

"We want to be promoted to the Premier League and you need good players to get you there. We now have a lot of new players here and it's exciting for the others when that happens.

"Seeing Brett and Jon come in this week has given us all a lift."

Meanwhile, Danny Haynes could make his long-awaited comeback later this week.

Now fully recovered from the groin problem that wrecked his pre-season, the former Ipswich forward has been back in training for 10 days.

And City boss Millen is considering arranging a friendly fixture later this week in order to give Haynes a run-out and an opportunity to improve his fitness.

"I'm looking at the possibility of setting up a game at the training ground on Thursday," confirmed Millen. "But it all depends whether we think Danny and one or two others are ready for a game.

"If we feel they are ready, then we'll sort something out for them. If not, then we won't bother."

He added: "It's frustrating for Danny, because he used to be an Ipswich player and wanted to play this weekend. But we're having to be careful with him at the moment and there is no way we are going to risk rushing him back too soon."