Bristol City team news latest ahead of Sunderland clash - Antoine Semenyo and Zak Vyner updates

Bristol City return to the action this weekend as they welcome newly promoted Sunderland in their first home game of the 2022/23 season.

The Robins will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing 2-1 defeat away at Hull City last time out.

They led 1-0 at half-time thanks to Andreas Weimann’s goal, only for the Tigers to turn the game around in the second-half after goals from Ozan Tufan and Jean Michael Seri.

Saturday’s opponents Sunderland drew their opening day clash 1-1 at home to Coventry City.

Here is the latest Bristol City team news....

Zak Vyner

Vyner started the game at Hull at centre-back in his first start since February. The defender was perhaps one of the players expected to leave Ashton Gate in this transfer window but may now have been given another chance by Nigel Pearson.

He had a good pre-season but has been ill this week. Pearson has said, as per Robins TV: “Zak has been ill since the weekend actually. He did a light session today so we’ll have to monitor him to see whether he is in contention for the weekend.”

Cameron Pring

Cameron Pring, who made 34 appearances in all competitions last term, has trained well this week and is back in contention for a return.

The left-back broke into the first-team last year after loan spells away at Hereford, Newport County, Cheltenham Town, Walsall and Portsmouth to gain experience so getting him back will be a welcome boost.

Antoine Semenyo & Ayman Benarous

Bristol City remain without Antoine Semenyo and Ayman Benarous but they are making progress.

They missed the influence of Semenyo up front against Hull. He fired eight goals and 12 assists in the last campaign but is out of action with a shin injury he picked up on international duty with Ghana.

Pearson didn’t want to put a time frame on his return:

“We just have to increase the loading on him over a period of time and see how he responds to that. That is the plan for him, Ayman is doing well also so we’re getting there.”

Getting Benarous, who is an academy graduate, will be beneficial too as he provides useful competition and depth to the squad.

Tomas Kalas

Defender Tomas Kalas could make his return against the Black Cats after five months out.

He has been seen training at the open training session this week but it remains to be seen whether he will be rushed back into the side.