Bristol City and Birmingham City injury & team news - NINE ruled out and one doubt

Bristol City host Birmingham City at Ashton Gate this afternoon as they return to EFL Championship action. Over 20,000 fans are expected to take in the first home league match of the New Year.

The Robins were in FA Cup action as they drew 1-1 with Swansea City at home last weekend. Blues were due to face Forest Green Rovers but their match was postponed and as a result, will be played on Tuesday night, the same day as City’s replay against Swansea.

Two places separate and three points separate the two teams with Birmingham in 17th and City in 19th. City have had three draws on the bounce since the team were booed off in the defeat to West Brom on Boxing Day.

In the previous meeting between the two teams, it finished 3-0 at St Andrews’ to the home side with Auston Trusty scoring a brace. Bristol City will have to contend with the goal scoring threat of Scott Hogan and Troy Deeney, with the former scoring nine this campaign. Here is the latest injury news for both Bristol City and Birmingham.

Bristol City injury news

The Robins were dealt a blow from their FA Cup match with Swansea with both Andi Weimann and Tommy Conway forced off. Weimann is out until the end of the month, whilst Conway could be slightly longer.

As a result of their absence, Sam Bell is expected to be amongst the substitutes, whilst Chris Martin could feature in a match-day squad for the first time in four matches.

Kane Wilson and Tomas Kalas have both provided good news however with both back on the training ground. Kalas could be on the bench in the next fortnight but will have to overcome some Under-21’s matches before he can start. Wilson has been out since October with a jarred knee and is making a positive recovery.

Ayman Benarous has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a complication from an anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered at the end of last season. The academy midfielder was closing in on a return.

Andy King, Jay Dasilva, Joe Williams and Mark Sykes all featured for the Under-21’s against Cardiff in midweek with all getting an hour.

Birmingham City injury news

Reda Khadra could make his Blues debut against the club that has held an interest in him for the past six months. Nigel Pearson admitted earlier this month that he is a player that he wanted but the Midlands club were quicker in getting to him.

Top scorer Hogan is back in contention after being out with a long-term hamstring injury. The Republic of Ireland forward has been out since before the World Cup and has a knack of scoring against the Robins.

Dion Sanderson has been described as ‘touch and go’ in regards to his status for the match. He suffered a hamstring injury against Hull, but the arrival of Burnley centre-back Kevin Long softens the blow. In a spate of hamstring injuries, George Hall is out for the next fortnight. Harlee Dean - a one-time transfer target for City is absent, as is Gary Gardner and Nico Gordon.