When Nahki Wells trudged off the St Andrews field in the 82nd minute following a 3-0 drubbing away at Birmingham over four months ago, he wouldn't have envisaged not starting a league game since.
As City approach the reverse fixture on Saturday at Ashton Gate, Wells reminded manager Nigel Pearson that he shouldn't be the forgotten man just yet after his performance in the Under-23s on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old scored twice in a 3-1 victory and although it's not exactly the same quality on the pitch, it was a subtle message that he still has something to offer between now and the end of the season.
Since that forgettable night in Birmingham - which proved a truly horrible performance as City were battered into submission by the Blues abrasive style of football - Pearson obviously believed he had seen enough to suggest to opportunities in the first-team would be few and far between.
He's come off the substitute bench 12 times in the league, clocking up a total of 159 minutes - an average of 13 minutes and 30 seconds per game - not exactly a lot of time to redeem his form and make a statement.
Wells has managed one goal during that time which came in the 3-1 defeat at Blackpool at the beginning of February only his second of the season following his memorable last-gasp winner at Queens Park Rangers back in September.
So it is no surprise that Wells continued to quietly go about his business in the youth side, scoring eight times in the last three matches in one final attempt to convince those he is ready to make an impact.
It's worth noting that City's golden attacking trio of Antoine Semenyo, Andi Weimann and Chris Martin have been pretty much undroppable in the last couple of months. The blank against Nottingham Forest was the first time in 14 matches where they failed to score.
Rightly so, Wells has had to remain patient, probably bite his tongue on occasions and take up the role of benchwarmer until he grabs his opportunity to impress.
But that leaves the conundrum - what to do with Wells until the end of the season?
As one of the club's highest earners, it seems inconceivable that he'll stay at the club beyond the summer especially if he's not getting any minutes on the pitch.
Wells still has another year left on his contract and while he continues to sit on the bench, his value is bound to diminish at an alarming rate.
He scored 10 goals in 36 Championship starts last season and another 13 in the season prior while at Queens Park Rangers so there's obviously still a player in there who can put the ball in the back of the net. It was only two years ago that City paid £5million to sign him from Burnley.
If Pearson decides to play Wells, or at least rotate him with the likes of Chris Martin, then that offers the opportunity for the player to get himself on a scoring run ahead of a potential summer transfer.
That will only increase his potential suitors and therefore his price-tag is likely to rise with a slim chance to recoup some of the money forked out for him. City's financial situation doesn't need repeating but every pound counts at the moment.
Another option would be to cut the losses and plan beyond the summer by giving the likes of youngster Tommy Conway or Sam Bell the opportunity to play ahead of him.
City are in the mire of lower-table obscurity in the Championship where they won't go down but are too far adrift to make the play-offs. Pearson knows it's a results-based business and that will take priority, but now would be eyed as a chance to give the youngsters precious first-team experience, especially if they are to play a part next season.
Leaving Wells in a state of limbo doesn't appear to be doing anybody any favours.
His attitude
As mentioned previously, Wells' desire and work rate on the pitch can't be called into question. He could have thrown his toys out of the pram following a lack of game time and the refusal to let him leave on loan for Cardiff in January.
The Bluebirds wanted him on deadline day, but Pearson was in no mood to let his players leave temporarily, especially to a league rival.
In his interview with Bernews, his attitude to missing out on a switch remained exemplary, saying: "It did push me to a place where I thought, ‘If I can go out [on loan] and play, I’ll do it. It didn’t transpire. The club had other thoughts, and I accepted that.
"We’re footballers at heart, and we’re at our happiest when we’re playing and doing well. I entertained it, and the club knew my wishes respectfully, but nothing came of it because of their approach to not wanting to lose me and because they would need to replace me. I’ll just get my head down and keep working hard."
When quizzed on an opportunity to play in the MLS following transfer speculation, he added: "I’m a contracted Bristol City player, so I’m not really thinking about that sort of stuff."
So he is certainly focused on his short-term future with the club and his performance against Cardiff U23s, in which he captained the side, highlights that he just wants to be playing football.
The formation
Pearson doesn't appear as if he'll chop and change the formation of his attacking trio, and rightly so after they have emerged as one of the most potent forces in the Championship.
Andi Weimann and Antoine Semenyo are virtually undroppable so unless one of those pair pick up an injury (touch wood it doesn't happen) then the only conceivable option would be to rotate him with Chris Martin.
It's easy to see why Martin is an integral figure in Pearson's plans. His hard work in linking up his strike duo often goes unnoticed and it's a pretty thankless task in an attempt to win the aerial duels throughout a game.
The manager has often made a point of picking him out as an unsung hero while Semenyo and Weimann take the plaudits. One of the main reasons behind Martin's consistent inclusion is his ability to defend corners - an Achilles heel in City's season so far.
The 33-year-old remains out of contract at the end of the season although the club do have the option to extend that. During a press conference last month, Martin admitted no talks have commenced over his future despite his run of games in the first-team.
He's made 32 starts this season, and you'll have to go back to the 2015/16 season while playing for Derby when he last topped that figure, while nine of those starts have come consecutively in the last five weeks with four goals to his name.
It will be no surprise that Martin has looked leggy at times during that run of matches (he played 90 minutes in each of those matches) until Pearson took him off for Wells in the 58th minute of the loss to Forest.
It's difficult to determine whether Wells could fill the boots of Martin in regards to having a similar impact on the side without being tried and tested in the formation that Pearson has set his team up in.
But you have to compare the difference in progress in the first half of the season to the current day - where City's football is more fluid, playing higher up the field and creating more chances. In retrospect - the way Pearson has his side playing now, it should suit his game more.
Whether we or Wells get the opportunity to make a mark in the system remains to be seen but it's clear he won't give up his chance without a fight.
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
