Liam Manning explains why Bristol City have signed ex-Man City and Rangers winger and hints at permanent transfer

Liam Manning says Bristol City's new signing Dire Mebude is one of the best U21 wingers in the world and admitted that the Robins may need to tweak their formation to fit him in.

Mebude signed for City on deadline day on a loan deal from Belgian side KVC Westerlo until the end of the season, to try and give the Robins greater potency up top.

The ex-Manchester City youngster has had a tough spell since his move abroad, but Manning is confident that experience will only aid his development.

"When I look at his figures last year he was comfortably one of the best wingers in U21s football," he said. "And having that tough experience and reality check of what senior football is really like, having spoken to him, he's desperate to come in and impress."

The attacker joined Rangers at 10-years-old before he switched to Man City's Academy aged 16. The Scotland u21 international gained interest from Tottenham Hotspur before his move to Belgium, which is reported to have been for a fee of up to £1.65m.

Manning also confirmed that there is the possibility of making the move permanent at the end of the season.

Manning added: "Dire is someone I saw a lot in the U21s at City and Oscar Bobb, they were very dangerous and his numbers were right up there so he's had a tough experience in Belgium which I can appreciate having been there myself. He is someone that will bring some excitement and pace."

Mebude has featured just three times for the Belgian side this season, but his lack of game time hasn't entirely been his fault.

"He couldn't play for two or three months because of visa issues because of Brexit so he wasn't allowed to be involved, thats out of his hands," Manning said.

"I think that Westerlo are in a different position this season to what they were last in terms of what they recruited him to do and the situation they are in he may not be the type of player they need."

Manning's current system includes two narrow no.10s, in Jason Knight and Anis Mehmeti/Scott Twine (when fit), which begs the question of where Mabude fits in.

The manager continued: "We might have to make tweaks to it as well, it gives us that option. 1v1 duels and wide he's got real pace, like today for example when you're chasing at the end, someone like him to have an impact and we have to see where he's at."