Chris Hogg has revealed that Bristol City are waiting for an update on the fitness of Josh Campbell-Slowey after the young defender was forced out of training ahead of the Robins’ clash with Millwall.
The Reds, who have a rare weekend without a fixture having been knocked out of the FA Cup, travel to The Den on Tuesday evening to face Alex Neil’s side who currently sit 12th in the Championship table.
Although Campbell-Slowey is yet to make his first-team debut for the Robins, he has been named in four Championship matchday squads so far this season. However, a calf injury has seen him sidelined in recent weeks, with his last appearance on the Reds’ bench coming all the way back in November.
While the teenager returned to training this week as expected, Hogg has confirmed that City are waiting to find out the severity of an issue that forced him out of a session on Thursday. Fortunately, the Reds are set to have the same squad to pick from that secured the win over Middlesbrough.
“He’d done a little bit,” the assistant coach told Bristol Live on Friday afternoon. “He actually had to come out of training yesterday so we’re waiting for a little update on that.
“He’s looked good Josh, he’s obviously a young player that we’re hoping will do well in the future. It’s just the same as it was before. Muscular.
“We’re as we are really for after the Millwall game really,” he continued. “I think at this point in the season when you do win, it’s quite nice and it’s quite refreshing when you come in and those bumps and bruises, when you don’t pick up points are a big thing that become pretty minute. The lads have been great this week so we’re running as we were.”
Having been sidelined for the best part of two months after being forced off in City’s New Year’s Day draw with Plymouth Argyle at Home Park, Cam Pring returned to the fold from the bench in last weekend’s win over Middlesbrough. The 27-year-old even managed to pick up the assist for George Earthy’s leveller in his second-half cameo against Michael Carrick’s side.
Hogg, like the majority of the City support, was impressed by the left-back’s showing against Boro. While the competition is intense for the starting role on the left flank, the Reds’ assistant coach feels that Pring now needs the opportunity to build up his match minutes after a spell on the sidelines.
“Pringy’s obviously been a big part of the group and a big part of the football club over numerous seasons now so it’s nice for him and good to make an impact when he came on,” explained Hogg. “I thought he controlled the cut-back really well for the first goal and it’s really nice to see him in that position.
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“It’s all about him building up now and competition again is huge within the group so we’re delighted to have that competition back.”
Elsewhere, the Reds’ assistant head coach shed some light on the position of Ayman Benarous. The attacking midfielder hasn’t featured for the City first-team since April 2022 having suffered successive ACLs. After completing his rehab, the attacking midfielder was involved in pre-season in 2023 and featured for the Under-21s before suffering the first of many hamstring issues.
The 21-year-old’s last appearance in a City shirt came in an Under-21s clash with Sheffield Wednesday last August. Manning confirmed in January that Benarous was hoping to build up his training load in the next three or four weeks while admitting the Robins would have to be careful with his recovery.
While Hogg was unable to provide any real update on the midfielder’s current condition, he did confirm that he was still a long way away from being available for selection.
“He’s still following a programme with the medical staff,” he explained. “There’s no real update really on Ayman.
“Definitely,” he replied when asked if he was still a fair way away from being in contention.