Ryley Towler could be set for a fresh spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury 44 minutes into Bristol City Under-23s clash with Severnside neighbours Cardiff City.
Robins defender Towler has been out since January with a back problem, which Nigel Pearson has previously said was linked to his age, as the 19-year-old continues to fill his body out.
Towler started in central defence alongside Duncan Idehen in South Wales but was unable to complete the first-half after he dropped to the turf after winning a defensive duel on his own byline. The teenager received treatment for around a minute before he was taken off, with what appeared a groin problem.
City will now assess the injury back at the Robins High Performance Centre but a further extended spell on the sidelines would be a fresh blow to Pearson's defensive options.
Tomas Kalas came off seven minutes from time in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, which leaves the Robins with just three senior centre-backs in Timm Klose, Zak Vyner and Robbie Cundy, although the latter is yet to start a Championship fixture. Had Towler emerged from the Under-23 fixture in the Welsh capital unscathed it could have given Pearson additional depth in the position.
The Bristolian was recalled from his promising loan spell at Grimsby Town in December and started City's Championship fixture against Millwall on January 2, although suffered a challenging 45 minutes as he was at fault for both Lions goals before being replaced.
Pearson will address the media on Thursday, in which the extent of Kalas' injury should be known by then, but the Robins are expected to be without Rob Atkinson (calf) plus right-back George Tanner (hamstring) for Saturday's game against Birmingham City, while Nathan Baker (concussion) is expected to be out for the season.
Idehen could force his way into the manager's thinking with the 19-year-old surprisingly named in the matchday squad against Swansea City in February and he has largely impressed in his performances for the Under-23s.
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