Bristol City boss may loan out more players

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson says he will consider sending out more players on loan in the near future, writes Andy Stockhausen.

Strikers Lee Trundle and John Akinde are already on loan with Swansea City and Wycombe Wanderers respectively, while centre-back James Wilson is at Brentford.

But Johnson, pictured, may send others out on loan if he feels they are not benefiting from regular games. City have only one reserve-team fixture between now and the new year – a home clash with Exeter in the Totesport.Com Combination on December 15 – and the absence of any other games means there is little opportunity to give match practice to players on the fringe of the first-team squad.

Johnson has not ruled out arranging friendly fixtures to fill the void, but says loaning players out is an equally viable option.

He confirmed: "We have four out on loan at the moment and that number could grow.

"We have a bigger squad this season and it's difficult keeping everyone match fit when you don't have regular reserve-team football.

"There are two ways of dealing with that situation; either we can arrange friendly games to suit us or send another couple of lads out on loan.

"We have not yet reached the stage where it is a major problem, because we are approaching a busy time in the season when games come thick and fast.

"But that will not always be the case and there will probably come a time when the lack of reserve games becomes an issue."

Surplus to requirements at Ashton Gate and out of contract at the end of the season, Trundle will remain with Swansea until December 31.

Wales Under-21 international defender Wilson is due to return from Brentford at the same time, while Artus will conclude his short stay with Cheltenham at the end of the month.

Akinde joined Wycombe for a month only last week and featured in their 6-0 drubbing at the hands of League One promotion contenders Huddersfield Town at the weekend.

Johnson said: "The loan system is extremely useful, because it enables some of our younger players to get regular first team football, something they do not get here at the present time.

"We're in the middle of a two-week international break, but John Akinde is still getting match practice. Because he's playing while we are not, he will be ready to come straight back in and challenge when he returns from Wycombe."