Stoke City vs Bristol City injury news with eight out and one doubtful

Nigel Pearson is not willing to risk rushing back Bristol City’s injured trio as he rules them out from playing against Stoke City.

The Robins’ trip to Good Friday comes too soon for Alex Scott, Kal Naismith and Tomas Kalas who are set to miss Monday’s match with Middlesbrough too.

Scott has a knee ligament injury that he suffered on international duty with England Under-20’s last Monday. It’s not thought to be serious and he could return against Watford next week.

Naismith has had a calf problem that has had him out since February. The 31-year-old had the same problem in October and that ruled him out for several months, and so Pearson and his medical staff are being cautious as to when he returns.

Czech Republic international Kalas has been out since early March after leaving the Severnside Derby early. He aggrevated a groin injury that ruled him out for a large part of the campaign.

Joe Williams and Rob Atkinson are out for the season after hamstring and knee injuries, whilst Ayman Benarous will go an entire campaign out with injury. Mark Sykes serves the second of his four-game suspension after being retrospectively banned for an incident in the 2-0 defeat to Swansea City last month.

Scotland Under-21 striker Tommy Conway may be limited to a particular amount of minutes as he returns from a hamstring tendon injury. Conway scored against Reading last week but could only last the hour as City try to carefully manage his minutes.

Explaining his decision, Pearson said: “You have to remember that players who play in a very explosive way like he does. You have to be sensible and I don’t want players pacing themselves either.

“I want them to play flat out and if it means they only last half a game then I’ll accept that more than somebody who just wants to look after themselves.”

Alex Neil made a late call last Saturday not to include Dwight Gayle after suffering a calf injury before the international break. He is ‘back on the grass’ but that usually indicates that he’s back in training but not ready for first-team selection yet. He added that Friday’s match will be ‘too soon’ for Manchester United’s Axel Tuanzebe.