Bristol City vs Birmingham City injury news - as eight players ruled out and three doubtful

Birmingham City are close to welcoming back Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Dion Sanderson as the centre-back has nearly recovered from a hamstring problem. Blues manager John Eustace confirmed that the injury was nothing more than a ‘slight strain’, though Sanderson does remain a doubt ahead of this weekend’s clash at Bristol City.

Top scorer Scott Hogan is finally fit and raring to go after a fairly lengthy spell on the sidelines but wonderkid midfielder George Hall has hit a setback. The youngster, who has been linked with a move away to Leeds United this January, was nearly back from a calf issue but he will spend a while longer recovering.

Meanwhile, Eustace noted that a trio of players were back in training as Nico Gordon, Gary Gardner and Harlee Dean have all been ‘back on the grass’. Marc Roberts is out injured once again, though, and the game probably comes too soon for the trio mentioned.

It is a huge game as Birmingham make the trip south west, with Bristol City just three points below Blues and with both sides edging closer and closer to the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone after poor runs of form. Blues have picked up just four points out of their last 15 available, whereas Nigel Pearson’s men have earned five.

Saturday’s hosts will have to make do without a whole host of players as Tomas Kalas (calf), Kane Wilson (knee), Ayman Benarous (ACL), Andi Weimann and Tommy Conway (both hamstring) are all sidelined with long-term injuries. There are no other fresh concerns for the Robins.

Ruled out: Hall, Roberts, Dean (Birmingham); Kalas, Wilson, Benarous, Weimann, Conway (Bristol).

Doubts: Sanderson, Gordon, Gardner (Birmingham).