Bristol City

Liam Manning drops Matty James contract hint as Bristol City captain is ruled out of Stoke clash

01/05/2024 Raymond 0

Matty James will miss Bristol City’s final match of the season against Stoke City due to minor surgery for a hernia, but head coach Liam Manning has suggested that the midfielder might continue with the club beyond this summer. James, the team captain, is among four first-team players whose contracts expire next month, and his absence from the upcoming match indicates that his last appearance for the club, unless circumstances change, was the 64 minutes he played in the victory over Rotherham United.

While a contract offer has been made to Joe Williams to extend his stay, there has been no mention of James, who joined the club three years ago. If Williams remains and with Max Bird joining from Derby County after his loan spell, along with Jason Knight and Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Bristol City will have four senior central midfielders for the next season, excluding others who play further forward or younger talents like Adam Murphy and Jed Meerholz. However, Manning has suggested that this number could increase to five, with ongoing discussions and meetings to decide James’ future.

Gooch, Pearson, Leris – Stoke City injury latest ahead of season finale vs Bristol City

30/04/2024 Raymond 0

Stoke City manager Steven Schumacher faces crucial assessments regarding the fitness of Lynden Gooch and Ben Pearson. Both players are nearing recovery from hamstring strains sustained in a previous match against Norwich on March 16. However, Schumacher’s primary concern is ensuring their readiness for an intensive pre-season regimen rather than rushing them back into action, especially given Stoke’s secure position in the Championship standings.