Football City midfielder Bird ‘will be out for next few weeks’ - Struber

MAX Bird will be sidelined for “the next few weeks” with a calf injury, Gerhard Struber has confirmed, and while that leaves Bristol City with limited midfield alternatives, the Robins boss believes Zak Vyner is a good option in the middle of the park.

- Dan CARTER

City's Max Bird, in action against Sunderland last April

(Michael Steele/Getty)

Having recovered from an injury which ruled him out for the majority of preseason to feature in four of the Robins’ first five Championship matches, Bird has missed City’s last two games - a defeat to Oxford United and a draw with Preston North End - with a new calf issue.

Ahead of Saturday's clash with the Lilywhites at Deepdale, Struber confirmed the 24-year-old would not be ready to play against Paul Heckingbottom’s side. However, the City boss was, at that stage, reluctant to put a timeframe on the midfielder’s recovery, insisting he would provide a further update when he had a clearer diagnosis.