Chris Hogg has confirmed that Bristol City are “hopeful” Nahki Wells will be ready to return to the matchday squad to face Sheffield United, with the Reds assistant head coach admitting the quick turnaround between games will impact team selection at Bramall Lane.
The Robins were last in action on Saturday afternoon when they drew 1-1 with Hull City at Ashton Gate. Joao Pedro gave the Tigers the lead after 13 minutes before being sent off a minute later for a reckless challenge on George Tanner. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Ruben Selles’ team kept City at arm’s length, with the home side’s only goal coming courtesy of an Anis Mehmeti penalty in the second half.
Having missed the 2-0 win over Millwall at The Den with what was understood to be a minor issue, Liam Manning had been confident that Wells would be fit and ready to feature in some capacity against Hull. However, the Bermudian international’s name was nowhere to be seen when team news landed at 2:00pm on Saturday, with the City boss confirming in his pre-match interview with BBC Radio Bristol that the game had come too soon for the forward.
After the full-time whistle, Hogg revealed that Wells had taken part in a small session ahead of the stalemate with the Tigers, with the intention of returning to first-team training in the build-up to Tuesday’s trip to the Steel City.
“Yeah hopeful,” Hogg told Bristol Live when asked if Wells was likely to return at Bramall Lane. “Hopefully that should be happening.
“He’s done another little session this morning so he’ll be back in training on Monday and will be good to go hopefully.”
Sheffield United currently sit second in the Championship, level on points with table-toppers Leeds United with only goal difference ensuring that Daniel Farke’s side remain the current league leaders. The Blades have won all but one of their last seven matches and come into Tuesday night’s game off the back of a 1-0 win over Preston North End.
City’s trip to Bramall Lane will be their third match in just eight days and is set to be quickly followed by a home clash with Norwich City at Ashton Gate on Friday evening. With Manning’s squad already stretched as a result of injuries to Luke McNally and Ross McCrorie, as well some departures during the January transfer window, the Reds can ill afford to pick up any new fitness issues before the March international break.
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Although Hogg is insistent the young group of players are typically able to recover well enough to cope with such a quick turnaround between matches, he admits that both he and Manning will have to take into account the recent work load of players when naming their side to face Wilder’s Blades.
“It most definitely does [impact team selection],” said the assistant head coach. “Obviously, we have boys who are at different kinds of stages of their fitness really.
“[Cam] Pringy’s played again today after being out for a while and cramping up the other night. We had to get Pringy out there again today, he did well and came off feeling fine. He was one really that we had to do and the rest of the boys, they’re in a good spot.
“They’re a young group, they recover really well normally and it’s about everyone contributing and chipping in now for the last 10.”