Bristol City v Lincoln City injury news as five ruled out and six are doubts

Bristol City turn their attention to the Carabao Cup as they host Lincoln City at Ashton Gate in the third round. The Robins play their penultimate fixture before an enforced break for the World Cup.

League One outfit Lincoln City are the opponents for Bristol and are hoping to bounce back after suffering an upset at the hands of non-league Chippenham Town. The Imps fell to a 1-0 loss as Joe Hanks scored at Hardenhuish Park.

Bristol City meanwhile picked up a point in a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough on Saturday. Andi Weimann had given City the lead but Chuba Akpom equalised in the second-half.

Opponents Lincoln have had the joy of already winning in Bristol after claiming a 6-3 win over Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium in September. On-loan Sunderland man Jack Diamond scored a hat-trick that day with Ben House netting a brace and Matty Virtue on target.

Here is the latest team news from both camps as both teams contend with selection issues for the third round tie.

Bristol City injury news

Rob Atkinson is a doubt after missing a third consecutive match. The 24-year-old had a bout of illness which saw him withdraw late on against Swansea City but he hasn’t featured in squads against Sheffield United or Boro either.

Centre-back Kal Naismith is a confirmed absentee with no time scale placed on his return to the side. Naismith’s calf injury was meant to be for 10 days in early October, but the 30-year-old has struggled to get back to the desired levels to play in a competitive match.

Kane Wilson and Ayman Benarous are City’s long-term absentees. Wilson jarred his knee against QPR after coming on as a substitute and required surgery. Benarous suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury towards the end of last season but is making steady progress.

City could be boosted by the return of Tomas Kalas who returned to training last week. Kalas had spent seven months on the sidelines with an injury and returned last month. The 29-year-old however suffered a groin problem which has hampered his return. Kalas has yet to start for City since making his return and has missed the last four matches.

Under-21’s captain Joe Low made his debut at the weekend and with Naismith, Atkinson and Kalas either ruled out or doubtful, he could be in line to make his first start should Pearson consider rejigging the team.

George Tanner is suspended and serves the second game of his three-game suspension after being sent off against Sheffield United.

Lincoln City injury news

Lincoln’s attacking options were limited with no attackers named on the bench. Ben House and Jordan Garrick picked up injuries in training and so 18-year-old Freddie Draper was named in the squad.

Teddy Bishop featured in the match and played 65 minutes before he was substituted for Matty Virtue. The former Ipswich Town midfielder featured after a five-month lay-off and his minutes will be monitored.

Daniel Mandroiu limped off with an apparent hamstring injury against Port Vale and has not featured in their two match-day squads since.

On-loan Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Carl Rushworth was substituted in midweek after taking a blow to the head. Jordan Wright replaced him and took his position between the sticks on Saturday with Rushworth absent.

Joe Walsh who has made just five appearances this season returned against Accrington last week but has had to deal with a calf injury. Walsh did not feature in the defeat to Chippenham Town.

Centre-back Lewis Montsma is out with a cruciate ligament rupture and is a long-term absentee for the Imps.