Kane Wilson is still playing catch-up over his fitness with Nigel Pearson indicating the Bristol City wing-back isn’t ready to come into starting contention just yet following a fourth-month absence with a knee injury.
Wilson has been training with the first-team squad and performed regularly for the Under-21s since his return in February, and has appeared on the bench five times playing just 10 minutes in the 2-0 defeat at Swansea City before the international break.
Mark Sykes’ four-match suspension effectively lifts the 23-year-old up the pecking order down the right flank, although in a 4-3-3 or Pearson’s diamond formation, there doesn’t appear to be an obvious place for him in the team, with George Tanner having locked down the right-back spot.
Wilson has experienced a deeply frustrating first season for the Robins after an injury in pre-season saw him lose his place in the XI for the start of the 2022/23 campaign, having experienced a promising summer after arriving from Forest Green Rovers, and then Sykes’ form, the change of system away from wing-backs, his injury and Tanner’s consistency has seen him remain largely on the sidelines.
With eight games to go until the end of the season and City’s Championship status for 2023/24 relatively secure, as they lie 12 points adrift of the play-offs and the same margin above the bottom three, the likelihood is Wilson will get an opportunity before the season’s end, but, at the same time, it’s not a given.
“He’s still got a lot of work to do to get to the fitness levels that the rest of the squad have, so Kane is playing catch-up,” Pearson said. “It’s difficult especially when games are coming thick and fast which means the training programme isn’t as intense as he needs it to be. That’s always a problem for players who aren’t starting, they have to work even harder.
“With the type of injury he’s come back from, he’s going to have to manage that as well, it complicates the equation but he just needs to make sure when he trains, he trains flat out all the time until he gets opportunities.
“He’s available again which is good for us we;ve got another first-team player available but we’ve got youngsters who are catching up too. That’s something about how to keep the motivation to finish the seasons strongly. Well, I think that can be driven by the competition within the squad.
“If you look at the forward positions, we have a lot of competition, so that will keep that pretty keen at that end. Because we’ve got lower numbers at the back, in particular, it means when players get their opportunity they need to take it and keep people out.”
Wilson can take his lead to some extent from fellow full-back Tanner, plus Cam Pring and Jay Dasilva on the other flank, all having experienced time out of the side, through injury and/or indifferent form but have all worked their way back into contention, on the training ground and then by taking their opportunities went presented to them.
Pearson replied “possibly” to the prospect of Wilson lining up in a more advanced role, similar to Sykes, with the expectation that Andi Weimann and Harry Cornick will initially fight over that particular wide forward berth, should he return to his previously favoured 4-3-3.
And it’s that sense of competition, particularly in attack, that Pearson hopes will drive the Robins into May as although they don’t have anything tangible to play for, certain individuals can still shape their futures, both in the short and long term.
It’s notable that in previous seasons, City have often entered this period with a number of players on expiring contracts, and performances have suffered as a result of it, but with that situation only applying to Tomas Kalas, Zak Vyner, Andy King and Jay Dasilva, the Robins have the capacity to end the campaign strongly and cement their place inside the top half, as a further sign of progress.
Naturally the lack of anxiety and pressure around league position means that, all being well, Pearson will continue to give more emerging talents from within the academy game time, as Omar Taylor-Clarke enjoyed an impressive full debut at Swansea.
However, he’s also mindful that can only happen if the team are performing to a level, to allow the likes of Elijah Morrison, Olly Thomas or Callum Wood to come into the first-team picture, otherwise it can be detrimental to their development.
Yet another reason why it’s important for City to play these remaining eight games with a particular high standard and quality to each performance.
“It doesn’t matter what I want to do, it depends on what the circumstances allow us to do,” Pearson added. “You’ve heard me talk on many occasions on how the circumstances can afford us opportunities to maybe blood players but it’s easier when the team’s playing well, and less of a risk when that’s the case.
“So it’s important that our senior players continue to perform well and contribute in a positive way. We’ve been missing Matty James and Andy King has played in midfield and played four on the trot, has contributed very well to the team but also has been very important for the youngsters.
“Omar made his full debut and played very, very well but don’t underestimate the contribution of the senior players who allow that to be the case, to help manage the youngsters when they play.
“It’s about getting the blend right. We certainly want to continue to become a side that’s able to win ugly games. We know that when we’re at our best we can play with good pace, we have got goals in us - I know we’re experiencing a lean period but I don’t worry too much about that.
“We’ve been much tighter as a team but you can never be complacent and you always have to work hard at it. The team remains the most important aspect. Every individual has a rle to play and they are in there to do what they’re good at but it’s really important for the team to evolve as a team.
“Because to push on to the next level for us in means to be more consistent over long periods and that’s really the key to succeeding and to do that you need a good combination of youth and legs and knowhow.”
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