Millwall v Bristol City injury news as five ruled out and four are doubts

Bristol City are in Championship action again as they travel to South London to face Millwall. The Robins play the second of three matches over a busy festive period.

City suffered a 2-0 defeat to West Brom at Ashton Gate on Boxing Day with Matt Phillips and Brandon Thomas-Asante scoring without reply. It was the seventh game in a row that City had failed to win at home.

Nigel Pearson’s side are now on their travels in their final game of 2022, and their first game of 2023. They’ve been better on the road as of late with a draw against Middlesbrough before the World Cup break and a win against Rotherham United after it.

Millwall, on the other hand, have only tasted defeat twice this season at The Den, and are a tough nut to crack at home. They have won four of their last ten matches, tasting defeat just twice, which has them in sixth, with several teams breathing down their neck for a playoff spot.

Eight points separate City and Millwall ahead of tonight’s clash and both teams. Here’s the latest team news ahead of the match in the Capital.

Bristol City injury news

There’s not much change when it comes to play availability from their last outing against West Brom with it as you were. It is too soon for Tomas Kalas to feature with his return date now set for the New Year, with an element of caution after he was sidelined two games into his initial return.

Ayman Benarous and Kane Wilson are City’s long-term absentees. Benarous’ season is over after suffering a setback to his anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained last year. Wilson is out until late January or early February after undergoing surgery for a knee injury sustained in early October.

Rob Atkinson returned to the match-day squad after a recent exile and came on as a substitute for Andy King. Atkinson could push for a start with changes in the offing after a run of bad form. Switzerland international Timm Klose - signed by Pearson - has been absent from the last four match-day squads. His absence has been unexplained.

Millwall injury news

As for Millwall, Tyler Burey and Benik Afobe are in consideration. Both made the match-day squad against Watford and were named on the bench. As for returns, Ryan Leonard will face a late fitness check.

It seems that Scott Malone has a bout of illness to overcome and it is unlikely that he will feature.  Mason Bennett is certain to miss out with a calf strain, and a return in the FA Cup is being spoken about instead. Callum Styles has a calf injury that he suffered against Sunderland but he is pushing hard for a return.