City await scan results on Bird and Atkinson

MAX Bird will undergo a scan on a calf injury that saw him miss Bristol City’s defeat to Oxford United on Sunday but boss Gerhard Struber is hopeful it is not as severe as the issue the midfielder had in preseason.

- DANIEL CARTER

The Robins suffered their first League loss of both the season and Struber's tenure when they were beaten 3-1 by the Us at Ashton Gate. First-half strikes from Nik Prelec and Prezemyslaw Placheta, as well as a late goal from Greg Leigh, ensured that Anis Mehmeti’s fourth goal of the season was scored in vain.

Having featured off the bench in each of City's last four League matches, most expected Bird to once again offer an alternative option in the middle of the park against Gary Rowett's side. However, when the teams were published, the 24-year-old was missing completely.

Bird sat out the bulk of the Robins’ preseason with a calf injury, which was sustained early in the summer, and while it was a similar issue that saw him miss out on Sunday, it is not yet clear just how long the midfielder will be sidelined for on this occasion.