Bristol City boss Gary Johnson could be heading from a defensive nightmare to an embarrassment of riches following the signing of Scottish international defender Andy Webster.
Johnson has seen centre-backs Christian Ribeiro (knee) and Jamie McCombe (cheekbone) lost to injury but with the signing of Webster from Glasgow Rangers, and the return to fitness of Liam Fontaine, the City boss could soon have strong competition to partner captain Louis Carey.
Against Derby it was Bradley Orr who deputised at centre-back when 6ft 5in McCombe was forced off injured with Brian Wilson brought on at right-back.
But with Fontaine and Webster near match fitness Johnson has further options. Webster could be in the team for tomorrow’s trip to Coventry but in any event is on loan for six months meaning his stay will overlap with the recovery of McCombe from a fractured cheek.
Johnson said: “We have brought in (Webster) not as a replacement for Jamie but as an immediate replacement and then Jamie and Webby will have to compete for a place when Jamie comes back of course. It gives us an extra player for a few months.
“We felt we were a bit short in (the centre-back) department, as in numbers not in height, so we thought we needed to bring in another centre back anyway and he was available and raring to go.
“He’s a class player and we need to get him match fit as quickly as we can.
“He needs to get to know us, our way of playing, our philosophy, but I’m pleased with what I’ve seen, and I’ve no qualms about using him when we need to, and it might be Saturday”.
Johnson continued to be coy on any further transfer dealings and admitted he is now looking forward to a period of calm when the transfer window closes on August 31.
He said: “There’re lots of representatives ringing me everyday. These people don’t earn money unless they shift people about and it’s a bit dangerous with your own players.
“It’s not a nice time for a manager at the moment as no one’s quite settled.”
Johnson also confessed he is undecided on City’s No 1 keeper and is making a “week by week” decision on Adriano Basso or Chris Weale. Midfielder Marvin Elliott is still out injured but should return sometime in September.
City travel to Coventry tomorrow aiming to knock Coventry off the top of the table for the second season running despite the Sky Blues’ change in fortunes.
The Robins rocked the Ricoh Arena last September, inflicting the Sky Blues’ first defeat of the season with a resounding 3-0 victory. But Johnson will settle for three points ahead of another emphatic scoreline given the arrival of manager Chris Coleman.
Johnson said: “They always seem to start well in the opening games of the season and we always have to go there to knock them off the top.
“But it’s always nice that we are going there to knock them off, that we are always that close and it would be good to get the results that we’ve got previously.
“We’ll certainly settle for less than that so long as we win.
“Coleman’s a good manager, he’ll have them playing some good football judging from the reports.”
After a late win over Blackpool and conceding a draw against Derby at Ashton Gate, Johnson refused to be drawn on whether Saturday’s encounter will be a sterner test for his team.
He said: “We’ve only had two games so we don’t know what our toughest test is going to be yet, it could have been Blackpool we don’t know.
“It’s certainly our next toughest test."
Johnson has seen centre-backs Christian Ribeiro (knee) and Jamie McCombe (cheekbone) lost to injury but with the signing of Webster from Glasgow Rangers, and the return to fitness of Liam Fontaine, the City boss could soon have strong competition to partner captain Louis Carey.
Against Derby it was Bradley Orr who deputised at centre-back when 6ft 5in McCombe was forced off injured with Brian Wilson brought on at right-back.
But with Fontaine and Webster near match fitness Johnson has further options. Webster could be in the team for tomorrow’s trip to Coventry but in any event is on loan for six months meaning his stay will overlap with the recovery of McCombe from a fractured cheek.
Johnson said: “We have brought in (Webster) not as a replacement for Jamie but as an immediate replacement and then Jamie and Webby will have to compete for a place when Jamie comes back of course. It gives us an extra player for a few months.
“We felt we were a bit short in (the centre-back) department, as in numbers not in height, so we thought we needed to bring in another centre back anyway and he was available and raring to go.
“He’s a class player and we need to get him match fit as quickly as we can.
“He needs to get to know us, our way of playing, our philosophy, but I’m pleased with what I’ve seen, and I’ve no qualms about using him when we need to, and it might be Saturday”.
Johnson continued to be coy on any further transfer dealings and admitted he is now looking forward to a period of calm when the transfer window closes on August 31.
He said: “There’re lots of representatives ringing me everyday. These people don’t earn money unless they shift people about and it’s a bit dangerous with your own players.
“It’s not a nice time for a manager at the moment as no one’s quite settled.”
Johnson also confessed he is undecided on City’s No 1 keeper and is making a “week by week” decision on Adriano Basso or Chris Weale. Midfielder Marvin Elliott is still out injured but should return sometime in September.
City travel to Coventry tomorrow aiming to knock Coventry off the top of the table for the second season running despite the Sky Blues’ change in fortunes.
The Robins rocked the Ricoh Arena last September, inflicting the Sky Blues’ first defeat of the season with a resounding 3-0 victory. But Johnson will settle for three points ahead of another emphatic scoreline given the arrival of manager Chris Coleman.
Johnson said: “They always seem to start well in the opening games of the season and we always have to go there to knock them off the top.
“But it’s always nice that we are going there to knock them off, that we are always that close and it would be good to get the results that we’ve got previously.
“We’ll certainly settle for less than that so long as we win.
“Coleman’s a good manager, he’ll have them playing some good football judging from the reports.”
After a late win over Blackpool and conceding a draw against Derby at Ashton Gate, Johnson refused to be drawn on whether Saturday’s encounter will be a sterner test for his team.
He said: “We’ve only had two games so we don’t know what our toughest test is going to be yet, it could have been Blackpool we don’t know.
“It’s certainly our next toughest test."
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