Johnson: I won't let my Bristol City strikers go out on loan

Gary Johnson has given his half-term verdict on Bristol City's progress and has declared he won't be letting any of his six strikers continue their education elsewhere.

With the arrival of Stern John on loan from Southampton, Johnson admitted interest from a number of clubs in taking his younger strikers on loan.

But Johnson, who has bolstered his firepower with the signings of Nicky Maynard, John Akinde and now Stern John, revealed he has no intention of parting with any of his young charges who will all be needed in the coming months, and who will all be given their chance.

He said: "It's a good thing to have six good strikers but you've got to have one or two of them scoring regularly. and you have to see who does that by giving people the opportunity sometimes.

"There's a lot of people asking that's for sure because they always look round. Good strikers are at a premium and people that want loanees are nearly always ringing up for strikers. But at the moment we need them all.

"There's so many games. November, six games, December, six games.

"There's a lot to do and we want to create compeititon so people like John Akinde, although he's not been on the bench recently, we still want him around because we want that competition.

"And he scored two good goals for the reserves in midweek so that puts him back in the frame again."

Asked for his half-term report on City's progress so far this season Johnson chuckled and said: "Well, we're in eighth place so we're doing better than some but we can still catch up with the pupils at the top.

"The work rate's there. So, so far as them doing their homework and things, they are doing their work. Now all we need to do is add that finishing touch to be top of the class. A win against Reading will mean we've had a real good stint after the international break"

His work continues on Saturday with the visit of the Royals and a host of stars tipped to return to the Premier League this season.