Mariappa’s chance will come, says City boss Holden
BRISTOL City boss Dean Holden insists Adrian Mariappa will be needed in the coming weeks amid a hectic schedule for the Robins.
The former Watford and Reading defender has not yet featured for the Robins since he joined on a free transfer last month, missing out on reunions with his former clubs in recent weeks.
However, he appears to be closing in on his debut for City, with head coach Holden admitting he has been pleased with what he has seen from the 34-year-old in training.
Holden says the Jamaican international will get his opportunity in the coming weeks as the Robins look to maintain their place among the top six in the Championship.
“He has been very good since he came in the building,” Holden said of Mariappa, speaking ahead of City’s trip to face Queens Park Rangers tonight.
“It has been quite a while since he played a game, but he has been keeping himself fit. You can see that, he is very agile, and he is very fit. He obviously takes his fitness very seriously, you wouldn’t think he has turned 34, he is very fit.
“He will come into the reckoning of course with the amount of games we have got coming up, everybody is going to be involved.”
Fellow centre-back Tomas Kalas missed Saturday’s defeat at Reading with a thigh strain, but there is no indication whether he will be fit to return for tonight’s game.
Tyreeq Bakinson is closing in on a return to first-team action, having recently been in a period of selfisolation after a positive Covid-19 test. The defensive midfielder, who was so crucial to the Robins’ excellent start to the season, has missed the last five matches.
“He trained this morning, but he has done nothing at all for the best part of two weeks now,” said Holden yesterday. “We are getting him back up to speed now and that will be really important for us, because he will be another welcome addition to the squad.”