Pearson will not rush injured City players back

at risk. I’m very pragmatic about it. We’ll see where he’s at, but it was good to see him out on the grass.”

The manager was asked if any of Lansbury, Baker, Liam Walsh or Owura Edwards might be involved against Jonathan Woodgate’s side, who beat City 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium back in October.

Pearson said it was ‘not likely’ and pointed out that players back on the grass should not equate to a return to matchday action, with Williams also unlikely to play this term after surgery to try to reduce the chance of any further hamstring problems.

“I would have thought it was pretty unlikely (that Williams plays again this season). The injury situation is improving, but I have to invest as much time as I can on the reality of preparing the players who are available,” explained Pearson, right.

“That doesn’t mean that I won’t spend time talking to the boys who aren’t available. We’ve had a number of players out on the field today, who are making progress. So that’s good.

“And the players who are available will have to take precedence over the amount of focus I give them at the moment, but hopefully our injury situation will improve. And we’ll have a number of them back before the end of the season.”

Bournemouth come to Ashton

Gate next, with just three wins in their last 11 Championship games, although they did beat Watford 1-0 at the weekend. However, Jack Wilshere’s 98th-minute red card rules the former England midfielder out of playing in BS3.

“We’ve had a first look at them,” said Pearson of the Cherries. “They’re a side that was relegated from the Premier League last season and they retain a lot of quality. They’ve had a change of manager themselves, so for a club that’s been exceptionally stable, they’ve been in a period of transition. We expect it to be a tough game, it’s about being aware of what your opponents are about, but I want to concentrate on us.”