City’s opponents head west missing key player

FULHAM will be without Fabio Carvalho for today’s Championship clash at Ashton Gate with the 19-year-old still suffering with a toe problem that has kept him out of the Cottagers last four games, writes James Piercy.

Carvalho has been among Fulham’s outstanding individuals so far this season, scoring three goals in five league games with one assist and is a crucial part of Marco Silva’s attacking strategy in his favoured 4-2-3-1.

There was hope the England

Under-18 international would return for this weekend but his scheduled comeback has been put back once again, meaning former City player Bobby Reid could well continue in the No10 role.

Fulham’s form has been patchy since losing Carvalho with the Cottagers winning four and drawing one with the 19-year-old on the field, but recording one victory and two defeats in his absence.

“Fabio’s started running on the pitch; but it’s longer than I expected and wanted, to be honest,” Silva told

West London Sport. “He took some steps back and we want to make sure he doesn’t step back again. We hope next week he can start working with the team.”

Silva, also without long-term absentees Tom Cairney and Terence Kongolo, changed his entire starting XI for the midweek Carabao Cup defeat against Leeds United but admits some of the individuals who impressed in the penalty shootout defeat could keep their places. That could include former City left-back Joe Bryan who’s made just one

Championship start this season.

Bristol City, in contrast, have few injury concerns for the game with Nigel Pearson able to select from a nearly fully-fit squad.

Young striker Tommy Conway is the only long-term concern as the forward recovers from ankle surgery which is set to keep him out until November, at the earliest.

Previously injured duo Joe Williams and Callum O’Dowda have been training for several weeks now with the former making the matchday squad against QPR last weekend.