Bristol City’s Matty James decision explained as he misses Queens Park Rangers loss

Nigel Pearson has explained why Matty James was absent for Bristol City’s match with Queens Park Rangers at Ashton Gate.

The Robins boss made one change which was enforced as James dropped out of the squad entirely, which is what is believed to be a groin injury.

BristolLive reported earlier in the week that the 31-year-old had sustained an injury that would keep him out in the short term.

His injury could see him miss up to three fixtures in total, including QPR, his former team Coventry City on Tuesday, and the weekend trip to Birmingham City.

“Jamo has had a little procedure so he is going to be missing for a week or so,” Pearson said in his pre-match interview with Robins TV.

James had started the last four Championship matches as City’s defensive midfielder, partnering teenage sensation Alex Scott mainly in the centre of the park.

He had been absent for another period in the season, missing four matches through a calf injury he sustained in the warm-up against Sunderland.

In his place was Joe Williams, who was handed his first start since the 3-3 draw with Blackpool. Williams had been a substitute in the last four matches with a 45-minute outing at Turf Moor.

He has now been set a task of holding his place down in the side in the absence of James with only Andy King and Han-Noah Massengo the other senior central midfield options.

The former Wigan Athletic midfielder has been on a carefully managed schedule but could now be ready to start back-to-back matches after persistent hamstring issues.

“Joe comes in, he’s felt a bit impatient,” admitted first-team manager Pearson.

“It’s difficult for players when they have done well to then lose their place because someone comes in and does well.

“For Joe now, he’s got to go in now and he becomes difficult to leave out.”