Nigel Pearson provides injury update on key Bristol City defender

Kal Naismith will receive a scan on Wednesday for the injury he suffered in Bristol City’s 0-0 draw with Coventry City on Tuesday night.

The defender was forced off in the 38^th minute of the Robins’ EFL Championship clash at Ashton Gate, after pulling up injured while running.

It added to City’s selection woes with substitute Joe Williams picking up a yellow card that rules him out for a match, in addition to Matty James’ injury.

Speaking after the match on the extent of the injury, manager Nigel Pearson said to BBC Radio Bristol: “I don’t know, he’ll probably get it scanned tomorrow.

“We’ll probably find out a bit more detail in the next 24-48 hours and then go from there.”

With Tomas Kalas and Timm Klose both unavailable for selection, Pearson was forced to turn to veteran midfielder Andy King to fill in at the back, and the 59-year-old was impressed with how the ex-Leicester City man adapted.

He said: “Kingy filled in pretty well there tonight, but you can see that we don’t have a lot of cover in that area, it was important to get somebody with good leadership qualitites at the back and Kingy certainly brought that.”

The 33-year-old’s communication with younger pair Zak Vyner and Rob Atkinson was key to keeping the backline solid and helped the Robins keep their fourth home clean sheet in their last five matches at the Gate.

“You’re not going to get many more experienced players than Andy King, let me tell you, and so yes it was important to get that sort of an influence back there,” added Pearson.

The manager will be hopeful that Naismith is back playing sooner rather than later, as he is currently short of options in central defence.

Kalas is expected back in November, while Switzerland international Klose could return in the near future.