Bristol City v Coventry City injury and team news as 6 out

Bristol City team news

Centre-back Rob Atkinson is closing in on a return to action and could make an appearance for the under-21's next week. He suffered a groin injury at the end of July after competing in some pre-season games, and he could soon come in to Liam Manning's thinking.

The 26-year-old was part of the open training session at Ashton Gate earlier this week and an under-21's match against Crewe Alexandra has been earmarked for his return. City will take a cautious approach with Atkinson after the ACL injury he sustained in February 2023.

Utility man Ross McCrorie is back out training but has been described as 'quite a way away' after a hamstring injury has meant he hasn't made an appearance this term. Japanese winger Yu Hirakawa has yet to make his competitive debut for City after suffering an ankle injury at the Olympic Games but won't come in to contention until after the international break.

Sam Bell will be out for a while though after the forward underwent a scan and it was revealed that the hamstring issue he suffered was serious. The 22-year-old won't require surgery on it but it is the same hamstring he injured in February which brought his 2023/24 campaign to an end.

Speaking to Bristol Live, Manning said: "“Belly’s going to be a little while, it’s the hamstring again, so delving into it, he’s not going to need surgery but he’s going to be out for a bit of time.

"Disappointing to lose him, given the work he had done but obviously he’s going to try and get back.”

Out: Rob Atkinson, Ross McCrorie, Yu Hirakawa, and Sam Bell.

Coventry City team news

Ben Sheaf is back in training after being side lined during pre-season because of an ankle ligament injury. It's unlikely he will return this weekend, but he's not too far away according to the Coventry City boss.

Summer signing Raphael Borges Rodrigues will have to wait even longer to make his debut for the Sky Blues after he suffered a set-back in training after missing pre-season with a thigh strain.

Speaking to Coventry Live about Rodrigues, manager Mark Robins said: "He’s had a setback. His thigh hasn’t settled down, so he is going to be a while. But we have to use this time to make sure he is physically in a good position.

“I feel for him because he’s come from the other side of the world, on your own and you’ve made that move, different club, new environment and different intensity.”

Norman Bassette could be in line to make his debut this week after joining from SM Caen. The 19-year-old has joined on a four-year deal with the fee undisclosed.

Out: Raphael Rodrigues and Ben Sheaf.