Liam Manning has confirmed that Cam Pring is “back on the grass” but admits that Bristol City’s games against Swansea City, Stoke City and Cardiff City will likely come too soon for him to return.
The Robins welcome Luke Williams’ Swans to Ashton Gate on Sunday lunchtime as they look to further close the gap to the play-off places and extend their unbeaten run in the Championship to four matches after last weekend’s draw with Oxford United.
Swansea currently sit 17th in the table, having failed to win any of their last seven matches in all competitions and come into this weekend’s clash off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Coventry City last time out.
Pring hasn’t featured for the Reds since their New Year’s Day draw with Plymouth Argyle at Home Park. Having started that game at left-wing back, the 27-year-old was forced off moments before half-time with a hamstring injury that has seen him sidelined ever since. However, Manning admitted he was getting closer to a return.
“Pringy’s back on the grass and pushing,” the head coach explained on Wednesday afternoon. “He’s definitely heading in the right direction, he’s not a million miles away but the next week is probably a little bit too early at the minute.
“That’s what is probably slightly frustrating about the scheduling this week. We’ve got it this week, the programme is pretty forgiving and then we’ve got another crazy week down the line. This week will be too early for Pringy.
“Once you get through that, it’s a fair few Saturday to Saturdays so it’s one of those where we can manage him back in, get some training load into and get him into a good spot. We obsess on planning, we have lots of meetings, the discussions will be there to say, what’s appropriate for Pringy, for Sincs [Armstrong] or whoever it is.”
While City managed to avoid picking up any new injuries in their 1-1 draw at The Kassam Stadium last weekend, both Joe Williams and Ross McCrorie were sent off. Williams was shown a straight red for a heavy challenge on Will Vaulks in the first half and McCrorie received a second yellow late in the second period for a challenge on Ciaron Brown.
Bristol City Live on Whatsapp
Join Bristol City Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol City stories sent straight to your phone
Bristol City Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.
Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol City news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.
To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.
We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.
To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Some fans had been keen to see the Robins appeal Williams’ sending-off, particularly given the inconsistency Oliver Langford showed throughout the draw with the U’s. But Manning has confirmed the Reds decided against lodging such an appeal with the midfielder instead expected to miss the next three games.
“It’s frustrating because it’s soft, but I also half see why the ref gives it,” the 39-year-old admitted. “My opinion from what I said after the game has probably not changed. I think Joe gives him the opportunity a little bit, but we saw a lot worse tackles. The one on Joe probably before that from Gregory Leigh was arguably worse as well.
“It’s one of those, it’s frustrating to lose Joe, he’s come back, he’s worked so hard to get back and the only probable blessing is that it’s seven or eight days he misses and not a two-week period. We didn’t appeal it.
“It will be more than that,” the head coach continued when asked if Williams would be banned for just one game. “I think so [it will be three]. We didn’t have him for two months so we’ll be alright.”