Football Robins likely to be without Walsh and Williams until second half of season
BRISTOL City have one fresh injury for tonight’s Championship game against Watford at Ashton Gate, following the win against Derby County at the weekend.
Head coach Dean Holden has not revealed the identity of the player but he did explain that HanNoah Massengo has been able to rejoin the squad and is in contention to face the Hornets.
Of more concern for Bristol City fans may be that midfielders Liam Walsh and Joe Williams are not fit to play still and have now been effectively ruled out until the second half of the campaign.
The Robins have six long-term injuries (Alfie Mawson, Nathan Baker, Walsh, Williams, Andi Weimann and Steven Sessegnon) and none are expected to play in the next nine games, as explained by Dean Holden at the pre-Watford press conference yesterday.
The Bristol Post pushed the head coach on why the exciting midfield pair have not featured so far this season.
The head coach admitted that the pair have had setbacks following thigh and quad injuries, respectively.
Holden said: “As I’ve said right from the beginning on injuries, I’ve tried not to be too smart or too secretive around them. There was a period where both of them were a couple of weeks away and moving in the right direction.
“Every injury is different and you have a pathway and a timescale to return. But it doesn’t always go to plan. These guys, it’s not gone according to plan. I can only be as honest as that. The important thing is that these guys are working hard in the background. It’s frustrating of course, not just for myself and the rest of the staff but certainly for the players themselves - and obviously our supporters, who are excited about seeing Walshy come back into the squad having had a great loan last year.
“Joe Williams was a really big signing for us in the summer. He was my first signing and I was really delighted to bring him in.
“The truth is he got injured on his first day. He didn’t come to the club injured. He did a light session and just felt something. He had a period of time before joining the club where he was at Wigan where he wasn’t really training with their first team where he was in that inbetween with the fitness coaches, and he picked up a little niggle (thigh) and he’s just not recovered.
“It’s hugely frustrating, of course. But I would be surprised (if they return) this side of Christmas, if I’m being honest - and I think it’s important now that they keep their minds right.”
“You’ve got to get your head around being out for a longer term: for Walshy and for Joe nobody expected it to take this long. The frustration is there for everybody but the main thing is when they come back, they’re nice and robust and ready to come back and compete for places and affect this team in that second part of the season.”
City could equal their best winning run of the season if they beat Watford tonight, as they chase a fourth consecutive victory in the Championship.
Fellow high-flyers Watford, who are looking to bounce back to the top flight at the first time of asking, sit only one point behind the Robins, fifth in the table.