Football Robins bring back youngsters to boost injury-hit squad
BRISTOL City are confident they did everything they could to avoid postponing Saturday’s game against Brentford and Covid-19 entering the camp again, which has not been confirmed but may be the case once testing resumes.
A time and date for the new fixture against the Bees will be confirmed in due course but the events of the last days will be investigated by the EFL - although this is routine for every EFL match that is postponed, with the clubs themselves ultimately deciding whether fixtures can be fulfilled.
Suspected Covid-19 cases in the City camp were unable to be verified on Friday, nor was the whole squad tested, after the EFLappointed lab assigned for this was unable to carry out the procedures on the bank holiday. While the news was unfortunate, it offers Dean Holden’s squad an unexpected break of 10 days to recover from Covid and regain players from injury.
City have already started reinforcing their injury-ravaged squad by bringing young players back from loan spells.
Central midfielder James Morton - who made his debut for the Robins in the Carabao Cup earlier this season - and winger Owura Edwards have returned from loan at Grimsby Town.
Morton, 21, made four starts in League Two for the Mariners and will offer Dean Holden another option in central midfield.
Edwards, 19, is the brother of Opi and impressed in 11 league starts at
Blundell Park, where both he and Morton played under Ian Holloway before the former Bristol Rovers manager announced his resignation just before Christmas.
The pair have been joined back at City by striker Saikou Janneh, who has returned from a loan spell with Newport County, as the 20-year-old recovers from a hamstring injury.
Talks are continuing over bringing back Kasey Palmer from Swansea City, where the midfielder is happy but who will want to ascertain whether he will get more playing chances in South Wales or Bristol for the rest of the season.
Injuries to Liam Walsh, Jamie Paterson, Andi Weimann, Callum O’Dowda and Joe Williams may swing that conversation, with Dean Holden remaining in touch with the midfield playmaker, but the Swans do not wish to lose the player either.
In addition, the club may recall Cameron Pring or Hakeeb Adelakun from loan spells at Portsmouth and Hull, respectively.
Pring would offer an extra option at left-back following news that Jay Desilva faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a serious leg injury.
Marley Watkins has returned to Ashton Gate already and is aiming to return to playing from February as he recovers from a hamstring injury too.