Sunderland v Bristol City injury news: Eight sidelined and two doubtful ahead of Championship clash

Bristol City have a quick turnaround as they make the long trip up to the North East to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.

The Robins’ unbeaten run is now in to double figures with it being 10 games now since they tasted defeat across all competitions. City drew 1-1 with Wigan Athletic at Ashton Gate on Wednesday evening and have one day less rest than the Black Cats who beat QPR 3-0 on Tuesday night.

Both teams will have players to assesses given it was a double game week for both and there will have to be a strong thought process from both Nigel Pearson and Tony Mowbray on the changes they will make. Here we look at Bristol City and Sunderland’s injury and team mates.

Bristol City injury news

Alex Scott is one game away from being suspended for two matches. Scott will have to go through six matches and avoid a yellow card if he is to miss out on a suspension. Despite the possibility of a ban on his head, Pearson does not want to remove him from the side.

Kal Naismith has been ruled out for the next few weeks, with a specific return date yet unclear. Naismith complained of a calf problem against Preston and after suffering a similar issue in October, the Robins are being cautious with him.

Tommy Conway is out still until the end of the month or March at least. The Scotland Under-21 striker had a hamstring tendon injury from the match against Swansea and has been out of action since the start of January.

Despite making a return from his knee injury he sustained in October, Kane Wilson is still a few weeks away from first-team consideration. Wilson has played twice for the Under-21’s but needs  more match fitness to be considered.

Ayman Benarous is out for the remainder of the campaign as a result of a set-back with his anterior cruciate ligament injury. Benarous has not played this season after suffering his injury against Hull last year.

Out: Kal Naismith, Tommy Conway, Ayman Benarous. Doubtful: Kane Wilson

Sunderland injury news

Tony Mowbray has promised that there will be changes but that they won’t be wholesale. Several players are carrying knocks and want to come out of training given how tight they feel, and they will be assessed.

In his latest update, Mowbray said that Niall Huggins has returned to the gras affer suffering an ankle injury at the end of last year. Lynden Gooch however is still in the treatment room and is at least a couple of weeks away.

Elliot Embleton broke his ankle and damaged his ligaments in December and is likely to be out for the remainder of the campaign. He could make a return, but Mowbray will be cautious in using him.

Influential striker Ross Stewart is out for the remainder of the campaign. He’s got 10 goals in 13 games this year but an achilles injury at Fulham forced him off on a stretcher and he later had to wear a protective boot.

Corry Evans is another who won’t play again this season. Evans suffered an ACL knee injury in their win over Middlesbrough, and will now have to play a supporting role from the sidelines.

Eduoard Michut was absent from the midweek win against QPR, and that was not down due to injury. Michut was allowed to rest at home, and could return at the weekend.

Out: Niall Huggins, Lynden Gooch, Elliot Embleton, Ross Stewart, Corry Evans. Doubtful: Eduoard Michut