Tomas Kalas' name was a welcome inclusion on the Bristol City teamsheet for their Championship clash against Barnsley.
City's record signing hasn't played for the Robins since tearing his hamstring during the 3-1 victory over Hull City on August 24 but replaces Nathan Baker from the team that drew 2-2 with Wigan Athletic last Sunday.
The Czech had been making excellent progress in his recovery and has been training for more than a week, deemed fit enough by head coach Lee Johnson to take his place in defence alongside Taylor Moore and Ashley Williams.
Kalas didn't take part in the traditional on-field walk alongside the rest of the first-team squad with Johnson likely choosing to shield the 26-year-old's potential inclusion from Barnsley.
His presence will be a welcome boost for a City defence which has conceded a troubling amount of goals and changes in recent weeks and the Robins are yet to claim a clean sheet on the road in 2019/20.
But while Kalas' return to the first-team picture was inevitable once he proved his fitness, albeit slightly ahead of schedule, Johnson threw a major curveball by handing Marley Watkins a rare start in the XI.
The Wales forward hasn't started a game for City since September 18, 2018 but has been picked in attack ahead of Spanish striker Rodri to partner Andi Weimann at Oakwell.
Both Rodri and Antoine Semenyo have been given chances to nail down a first-team spot and now Watkins has been given the opportunity in the absence of the suspended Famara Diedhiou.
Elsewhere, Han-Noah Massengo takes his place back in midfield after being given a breather against the Latics with Kasey Palmer dropping out.
The Robins look set to line up in a 3-5-2 as they take on a Barnsley team without a win since the opening day of the season and with the worst defensive record and second meekest attack in the division.
Bristol City (3-5-2, expected): Dan Bentley; Taylor Moore, Tomas Kalas, Ashley Williams; Pedro Pereira, Josh Brownhill, Han-Noah Massengo, Callum O'Dowda, Tommy Rowe; Marley Watkins, Andi Weimann.
Substitutes: Niki Maenpaa, Bailey Wright, Nathan Baker, Antoine Semenyo, Niclas Eliasson, Rodri, Kasey Palmer
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