Ivan Sproule has been welcomed back into the Bristol City family with open arms.

City's Irish winger was given indefinite leave of absence after he and his wife's second child was stillborn last month.

Sproule returned to his native Northern Ireland immediately after the tragedy to be comforted by family and friends.

But the 28-year-old has now returned after an absence of two weeks and he played the whole game in last night's reserve-team game against Southampton at Marchwood.

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson confirmed: "Ivan is back to work and we're pleased to have him back.

"When something terrible like this happens, it is very difficult for everyone involved and it has affected everyone within the football club.

"Ivan clearly needed time away with his family and we understood the importance of that. We told him to come back only when he felt ready and he returned to Bristol at the weekend."

Johnson insists Sproule and his family – wife Janet and two-year-old son Sam – will receive all the support they need in the weeks and months to come.

Messages of support have flooded in from City supporters and Johnson said: "We're all one big family at this club and the players and staff are a very tight-knit bunch.

"When something like this happens, we all pull together, close ranks and support one another. That goes for the supporters as well."

He added: "We will have to keep a careful eye on Ivan and monitor him. I spoke to him on a number of occasions while he was away and I'll continue to speak to him about how he feels.

"Some people need more time to come to terms with things than others and I recognise that everyone is different. But Ivan wanted to come back and he's looking forward to being involved again."

Prior to last night, the Irishman had not played since coming on as a second-half substitute in City's 3-1 home win over Plymouth Argyle on October 20.

But Johnson says he could still be involved in this Saturday's showdown with Coca-Cola Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Saturday.

He explained: "Ivan needed to get some football into him and that's why we played him in the reserve game.

"He needed game-time under his belt and he will be competing along with the rest of the group for a place in the squad on Saturday."