Sheffield United v Bristol City injury news as nine ruled out and three doubts

Bristol City have Mark Sykes available for their trip to Sheffield United after he served his four game suspension.

Sykes was banned retrospectively by the FA for an incident against Swansea City in mid-March, and was given a four game ban. He missed the draws with Reading and Middlesbrough, as well as the win over Stoke City and loss to Watford at the weekend.

Alex Scott, Kal Naismith and Tommy Conway continued their returns from injury on Saturday with substitute appearances against Watford. Scott had been out for three matches because of a knee ligament injury but made a return in the 56th minute on the weekend.

Naismith, who had been out for two months with a calf problem came off the bench for a second game in a row replacing Andy King. Tommy Conway, who was sidelined for three months was a substitute for a second game in a row and had a 14-minute cameo.

For the second game in a row, Kane Wilson was not on the bench. Pearson said his exclusion against Middlesbrough was to get a closer look at the academy players and Harry Leeson was preferred ahead of him. The former Forest Green Rovers wing-back has yet to start a league game and was not involved in the Under-21’s midweek either.

Joe Williams could return before the season is out after making positive steps in his recovery from a hamstring injury. Tomas Kalas remains a doubt as he contends with a groin problem but he is back in training. Ayman Benarous and Rob Atkinson are both ruled out for the rest of the season because of anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

Anel Ahmedhodzic missed the Blades' 4-1 win over Cardiff City because he was granted leave of absence when his wife went in to labour. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international could return this weekend. Wes Foderingham will also return after serving a one-match suspension for his red card against title-chasing Burnley.

Chris Basham missed the match after suffering a back spasm which ruled him out on the morning of their game at the weekend. He will be assesed by the medical staff said Paul Heckingbottom to The Star: “Knowing Bash’s character, when he told us he was struggling we knew it must be bad because otherwise he’d have patched himself up to get out there. That’s what he’s like, so we knew he must have really been struggling.”

Ben Osborn isn't in contention to play after Sheff United send the former Nottingham Forest man to see a specialist at the end of March. He has suffered with injury problems this season and has been missing or the last seven games. Enda Stevens is a long-term absentee with a muscle issue causing him problems. The Republic of Ireland international has not played since January, and has been limited to just 11 appearances this season.

Former Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster has been out since October with a serious hamstring injury, but has played a supporting role from the sidelines. Jack O'Connell is another who has been unavailable for selection for some time with his last appearance for the club in September 2020. Rhys Norrington-Davies underwent surgery for a hamstring injury that ruled him out in December but he hasn't yet made a return. He last played in October and missed the World Cup with Wales as a result of his injury.