After what has been an underwhelming start to the 2018/19 campaign, Bristol City will be hoping to bounce back when they take on Middlesbrough at the Ashton Gate on Saturday.
Currently sitting 14th in the EFL Championship table, the Robins have drawn both their league games in the new season – against Nottingham Forest and Bolton Wanderers. They were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by League One side Plymouth Argyle during the midweek following a 1-0 defeat at home. And manager Lee Johnson will be under some pressure to get things back on track as early as possible.
New signing Hakeeb Adelakun is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to an ankle injury. Goalkeeper Frank Fielding also remains a long-term absentee for the Robins.
Having sat out of the midweek cup game, 33-year-old summer signing Niki Maenpaa should come back into the playing XI in place of Max O’Leary.
Another player who sat out of the defeat against Plymouth, right-back Jack Hunt should be recalled for Saturday’s game against Boro.
The 23-year-old has showed glimpses of his potential in his first two appearances for the Robins since arriving from Ipswich Town this summer. Needs to step it up in order to earn a clean sheet.
Partnering Webster in the heart of the defence at Ashton Gate this weekend should be 27-year-old Englishman Nathan Baker.
The 19-year-old gave a good account of himself in the last league game and should be given another chance in the first-team ahead of loan signing Jay Dasilva.
The Swedish winger is in line for a return on the right flank in place of Marley Watkins, who started in the cup tie against Plymouth earlier this week.
The 22-year-old brings a lot to the table with his energy and box-to-box running. Should come back into the starting XI after missing out on the midweek game.
The 27-year-old Englishman put in another impressive display against Bolton last time out and should start alongside Brownhill in the middle of the park.
The Irishman has looked good in patches, but a lot more is expected of him going forward on the left flank. Should start on Saturday.
One of the goalscorers from the draw against Bolton, the 26-year-old Jamie Paterson should walk back into the starting line-up for Boro’s visit to the Ashton Gate.
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Partnering Paterson at the top should be Austrian national Andreas Weimann, who has looked impressive in the new campaign so far, scoring two in two league games.
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