Bristol City look set to head into their Ashton Gate showdown with promotion-chasing Burnley with much of the same squad that secured all three points against Norwich City before the international break.
The Robins will be without Joe Williams after Liam Manning confirmed the former Wigan midfielder is set for months on the sidelines having sustained a partial Achilles tear during the Reds’ win over Preston North End.
Elsewhere, George Tanner remains sidelined albeit the right-back is understood to be progressing well with his recovery while Ross McCrorie is edging closer to a return to action having got back out on the grass during the international break.
Manning’s options at right-back remain light with it still unclear whether or not Mark Sykes will be ready to return to the fold against Scott Parker’s side and it may be too early for Scott Twine to step back into the starting line-up with the former Burnley only doing bits and pieces of training in the international break.
Naturally, there’s debate over how many changes the City boss will be willing to make to the side that impressed at Carrow Road, but with a two-week gap between fixtures, one or two alterations could be made.
Here’s how we think the Robins might set up…
Goalkeeper and defence
The easiest shout of this piece is Max O’Leary. The Reds academy graduate has started every Championship game so far this season and while he has had a few shaky moments he will keep his starting place. Ahead of him, however, it will be interesting to see whether Manning opts for a back three or four, with the defensive set up his biggest headache.
If Sykes is fit, the Reds boss may throw the Ireland international into the starting lineup out of position as an out-and-out right-back, but with Tanner and McCrorie still a way away from returning, standing by the back three may be the better bet.
Rob Dickie is once again available for selection having missed the win over Norwich through suspension. The centre-back was sent off in the home defeat to Sheffield United but has been one of the first names on the teamsheet since he made the move from QPR to Ashton Gate.
Our bet is that the 28-year-old will slot into the back three alongside Zak Vyner and Luke McNally, who have been ever-presents under Manning, with Haydon Roberts the man to drop to the bench.
The former Derby County man has impressed when fit this season, but Dickie has to start when he’s fit and he is the only centre-back available to the Robins who is a natural on the left side of a back three.
Midfield
With Williams set for an extended spell on the sidelines, Manning’s defensive midfield pairing picks itself at this stage of the season. Jason Knight and Marcus McGuane have been in excellent form so far this term and will almost certainly continue together against Burnley this afternoon.
McGuane arrived from Oxford United with very little fanfare this summer but has quickly become incredibly popular among supporters. Manning doesn’t have many alternatives to turn to, but even if he did, the ex-Barcelona B man would be starting.
On either side of the midfield pair, we’re backing Cam Pring and Yu Hirakawa to start as wing-backs. Against a Burnley side that has been excellent defensively this term, City will need their wide players to have a major impact going forward and that is what we think will see Yu given the nod ahead of George Earthy.
The West Ham loanee has impressed in recent weeks out of position but spent the international break away with England Under-21s. Although he didn’t play loads of football, he may lack that freshness that his Japanese counterpart is able to offer on the right flank.
Ultimately, it is all but a toss-up between Roberts and Pring to start on that left flank, but the latter’s raw pace and defensive ability should be enough for him to hold down his starting role.
Attack
If O’Leary’s place in Manning’s starting XI is the most secure out of anyone in the Bristol City squad currently, Max Bird cannot be too far behind.
The former Derby County man has been exceptional this season, particularly when deployed in a more advanced midfield role, and with Scott Twine appearing to not quite be ready for a full return, he will almost certainly keep his place against Parker’s side.
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Alongside him in the other number 10 position, Anis Mehmeti should continue. The Albanian international headed into the international break with two goals in as many games and is looking to add some consistency to his game over the festive period and there is no better chance for that to start than against the Clarets.
Although Manning has insisted both Sinclair Armstrong and Fally Mayulu will get their chance to lead the line over the coming weeks, Nahki Wells is the current first-choice number nine at Ashton Gate.
The Bermudian international has five Championship goals already this season, despite only making six league starts, and will be coming into today’s clash full of confidence after his goal against the Canaries last time out.
Perhaps one of Mayulu or Armstrong could get a runout from the bench if the Robins need a goal late on, but they will have to do something special to force Wells out of his starting role.
Bristol City XI (3-4-2-1): Max O’Leary; Zak Vyner, Luke McNally, Rob Dickie; Yu Hirakawa, Jason Knight, Marcus McGuane, Cam Pring; Max Bird, Anis Mehmeti; Nahki Wells