Curtis Fleming gives injury update as Bristol City are careful with Tomas Kalas’s return to fitness

Robins assistant manager also gave the latest on Chris Martin as the striker missed the 0-0 draw with Portsmouth on Tuesday afternoon.

Bristol City created plenty of chances but despite playing 120 minutes, the Robins couldn’t find a breakthrough against a resilient Portsmouth side in their latest preseason friendly.

The behind-closed-doors game at the HPC finished 0-0 on Tuesday but the hosts had a hatful of scoring opportunities.

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Substitute Duncan Idehen hit the bar following a corner while Tommy Conway missed two good one-on-one situations with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Nahki Wells should have headed in a Joe Williams cross while Andi Weimann also had several sights of goal.

One player missing from the game against Marlon Pack and co was Chris Martin, who was unavailable with his wife having just given birth on the day before. And perhaps the former Derby County striker may have made the difference against Pompey.

Following the match, assistant manager Curtis Fleming explained that Martin had completed training on Tuesday before rushing off again to see his baby son again, such was the dedication of the player and the competition for starting places.

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“Wonderful isn’t it? It’s the best thing. We messaged him yesterday as he’s had a baby boy and congratulations to him and his good lady,” said the former Middlesbrough defender.

“Sometimes some things are important. And would you believe that he came in this morning to do a session because he doesn’t want to lose out any minutes.

“He’s lost out on some match minutes today but we’ve got something into his legs, and then he flashed back to the hospital,” added Fleming.

Cameron Pring was not available due to some stiffness in his left knee and there is no point taking risks currently with any players.

Matty James of Bristol City as Bristol City play Portsmouth FC in a pre-season friendly Matty James of Bristol City as Bristol City play Portsmouth FC in a pre-season friendly
Matty James of Bristol City as Bristol City play Portsmouth FC in a pre-season friendly
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Academy player James Taylor stepped into the breach and put in a good showing on the left flank, despite normally being a right-back.

Jay Dasilva got almost an hour of play too as playing time was shared around the full squad in a special extended match that saw four City U23s players play for Danny Cowley’s team late on.

Key senior defender Tomas Kalas was present at the HPC too and watching on, but not playing as the Czech International returns from a groin injury.

“Tomas is coming along fine. He’s looking strong and he’s looking fit but we have to be careful with these guys,” explained Fleming.

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“If you rush people back now and you lose them then you lose them for the season. You have to gradually build it.

“At the moment we are what we are and these guys are coming in. We’ve got Scottie [Alex Scott] to come back and we’ve got Antoine [Semenyo] to come back in so we’ll work hard with them but be patient,” he said.

Antoine Semenyo is still out with a shin complaint while midfielder Dylan Kadji is recovering from an ankle knock.

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