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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Richard Forrester

Nigel Pearson delivers Bristol City injury news with three key players to miss Bournemouth game

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson has confirmed Antoine Semenyo, Tomas Kalas and Joe Williams will all miss the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Semenyo limped off in the opening minutes against West Brom and later had ice strapped to his right knee forcing him to miss out on a potential first Ghana cap following his deserved call-up.

More worryingly, the injury is on the same knee that was operated on last summer which also gave him complications at the beginning of the season eventually seeing him sidelined for two months from September.

The manager admitted he has been making progress but says there is no date in mind to make a potential return, understandably eager to take extra caution when it comes to his recovery.

Speaking ahead of the Bournemouth match, he said: "He's making progress but because it's the knee he had a little bit of problem at the end of last season, we're being sensible with that.

"There's no time frame on Semenyo, he'll be fit when he's available to play. It's common sense that we can do what we can to give him time to get that right but he won't be available for this weekend.

"Of course, he was very disappointed to have missed out on his international call up for Ghana but I know he's very excited about their (World Cup) qualification so he'll get his chance at some point."

He'll be joined on the sidelines by Joe Williams who won't recover from a hamstring injury in time to face Scott Parker's side, although Pearson was hopeful of getting him back to action for the following test at home to Peterborough.

Tomas Kalas has missed the last three games with injury (Robbie Stephenson/JMP)

His injury against Barnsley was his third hamstring issue this year and initially threatened to rule him out for the season but those fears were laid to bed with the midfielder's social media post made last week.

"Not this week but maybe for the Peterborough game," Pearson said.

"I've already said he won't be considered for midweek games between now and the end of the year so hopefully he may be available for five games between now and the end of the season."

Centre-back Tomas Kalas will also miss a fourth game in succession following a groin injury. Pearson has spoken openly about how the Czech international needs to rest his body considering the number of minutes he has played in the last three years.

The manager did offer a glimmer of hope by revealing he is back on the grass but he will only bring him back into the frame when he feels ready.

Pearson added: "Kalas won't be available this weekend, he's been out on the grass today and I can't tell you how close he is but he is somebody who has been always been able to play through some discomfort.

"I suppose it's judging now whether we wait for him to be as close to 100 per cent as possible or whether he just makes himself available and gets back into the frame so we'll see.

"I think it's important for him that he makes the most of this opportunity to give his own body a bit of a rest."

Pearson did confirm Alex Scott is fit to face the Cherries after an ankle injury ruled him out against the West Brom draw and international duty with England's Under-19.

And there was more positive news on wing-back George Tanner with the manager hinting he could be back within a couple of weeks after an intense training period.

"He's much closer," the manager added. "He is looking much better and as I've pointed out with a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury, we certainly don't want to put him in a situation in which he is in danger of reoccurring it.

"He's back out there, training with us and looking okay. He now needs to have a couple weeks of regular, quite intense training to bring him back into contention - I think that's the best way of putting it."

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