Football Williams and Semenyo close to making City comebacks
BRISTOL City have been given a double injury boost ahead of Saturday’s visit of Blackburn Rovers to Ashton Gate, with Joe Williams and Antoine Semenyo playing in a behind-closed-doors match.
City beat London-based college Kinetic Academy, who offer young footballers a pathway into a professional club, last Thursday at the Robins High Performance Centre with Saikou Janneh and Semenyo among the goalscorers; the former posting the highlights on his Instagram Stories.
The Bristol Post understands manager Nigel Pearson was not in attendance as he continues his leave of absence due to a Covidrelated condition.
The game was arranged to get minutes into some of the players returning from injury, specifically Williams and Semenyo who, providing they don’t suffer any aftereffects should be in contention to face Blackburn next weekend.
Midfielder Williams hasn’t played since leaving the field in the 13th minute against Bournemouth on October 16, in what has been a tortuous time for the 24-year-old in trying to stay fit having played just 271 Championship minutes since he signed from Wigan Athletic last summer.
Three times Williams has made a return to the first team only to soon suffer another injury issue. Although he trained in the buildup to the 3-2 defeat at Coventry City, Pearson and assistant Curtis Fleming didn’t want to risk him in the Midlands.
With Matty James sustaining a foot injury prior to the international break and Andy King out until next month after undergoing hamstring surgery, Williams increases City’s options in centre midfield alongside Tyreeq Bakinson and Han-Noah Massengo.
Semenyo has played even fewer minutes in 2021-22 after knee surgery in May. He returned in August before issues flared up again after four substitute appearances.
Similar to Williams’ situation, City are keen to remain careful and manage expectations over his firstteam return and not gamble with his long-term health but the 21-year-old would be a strong asset to have back in the squad.
City are in need of extra pace and penetration in the final third, and Semenyo’s ability to play as a wide forward further opens up the possibility of Pearson starting in his favoured 4-3-3 formation.