Bristol City v West Brom injury news as four ruled out and three doubts

Latest on the injury front for both Bristol City and West Brom.
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Bristol City hope to secure a league double over West Bromwich Albion when they host them on Boxing Day at Ashton Gate. The Robins secured an unlikely win at The Hawthorn’s in October, winning there for the first time December 1993.

Nigel Pearson’s side are in search of a response after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Stoke City at home last week, despite taking the lead through Nahki Wells. Wells provided Robins fans with an early Christmas present, by signing a new two-year deal that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2025. The 32-year-old is the top scorer this season with all eight goals coming in the league.

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Defeat to Stoke last week left City in 18th, and they are just three points above Blackpool, who are in 22nd, and occupy the last relegation spot.

West Brom’s five-game winning run was ended by Coventry City last week, and the Baggies are two places higher than City on 29 points. A win for Bristol City would see them overtake their opponents, meanwhile West Brom could go as high as mid-table with a victory.

Both teams aren’t afforded the luxury of a fully fit squad, with both managers having to work their way around injury problems. Here is the latest on the injury front for both Bristol City and West Brom.

Bristol City injury news

Tomas Kalas will miss the festive period with a new time-scale placed on the Czech Republic defender. The 29-year-old returned with two cameo appearances in October after a seven-month lay-off but suffered a calf problem, which has kept him out for the last seven matches. His absence has at times impacted City with Pearson opting to play Andy King, a centre midfielder by trade in defence. The latest development is that he will return in the New Year, but that he is doing ‘a lot better’.

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Ayman Benarous and Kane Wilson are two long-term absentees. Benarous suffered a set-back when nearing a return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained last year, the academy midfielder’s season is now over. Summer signing Wilson is set to return in February, having undergone surgery for a jarred knee.

Rob Atkinson has not been suffering with an injury or illness but was dropped from the 18-man squad against Stoke, with Pearson claiming it was a ‘matter of trust’. Atkinson dropped down in to the Under-21’s and featured in a 4-1 win over Sheffield United, and now he is prepared to re-enter the fold.

West Brom injury news

West Brom have a near fully-fit side with Kean Bryan’s spell on the sidelines extended. The 26-year-old has not played for over a year, after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. He has suffered a setback in training and will be out for several weeks.

USA forward Daryl Dike may have to settle for a place on the bench. He is being eased in to action after an extended period out, whilst Semi Ajayi could join him there, having also been out for a time, though his injury was not at severe.

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Kyle Bartley could be a doubt having suffered an injury in a friendly match during their mid-season training camp in Spain. Bartley had a muscle problem in his leg, and did not play against Coventry last week. His absence forced Erik Piters to slot in at centre-back when he is predominantly a left-sided defender. Jake Livermore was left out of the 18-man match-day squad for a second consecutive week which allowed for an extra defensive reinforcement.

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