Nigel Pearson has challenged Cam Pring to cement his place in the Bristol City side following a string of impressive performances.
The 24-year-old has endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines and out of the squad, especially during the second half of last season and the beginning of the current campaign. His start against Swansea at the end of October was his first in the league since April.
Pring's involvement was partly down to injuries to Kal Naismith and Tomas Kalas while Rob Atkinson was also dealing with illness. He grasped his opportunity with both hands having started four of the last five matches on the left of a back three.
Against Rotherham on Saturday, the academy product was back in his favoured left wing-back role in the absence of Jay Dasilva and made the most of his opportunity by scoring his first senior City goal with a bullet header to put the game beyond doubt.
Dasilva has been a mainstay in Pearson's plans this season having started all-but one league game when he's been fit but Pring's current form is likely to see him maintain his role at left wing-back against Stoke City and over the festive period.
Pearson said: "I'm really pleased for him but I think with Cam Pring, the big thing for him is for him to nail down that position himself. He's in the side and deserves to be there.
"He's a really good athlete and his pace and power is a huge asset of his so I'm pleased he's able to hold down a place."
Pring joined the club in 2016 after being part of the Cheltenham Town youth side and has endured eight loan spells before breaking into the senior set-up. He made his league debut at the beginning of last season and went on to play 32 times in the league in total earning a new contract extension in January until the summer of 2024 with the option of an extra year.
However, he failed to feature in eight of the last 10 matches, including being left out of the squad in the final four games. Pearson added: "Maybe because of his career here so far, he's been farmed out numerous times on loan, he's had to work really hard to get back into the system here but I'm really glad we've got him."
Another player who may have another chance to stake his claim is George Tanner. The former Manchester United academy player started last weekend following Zak Vyner's illness on the right of the back three - just his third league start of the season.
Pearson said of the 23-year-old: "When we signed him at the start of last season, he was very much one for the future. He's had to overcome injuries during his time here but he's definitely improved and on a physical level he's much better than he was when he first came. I have no doubt in my mind George will give us exactly what we expect.
"He's mobile and I think that was important last weekend to give us a bit of mobility and pace just because of how Rotherham play so he's in contention like everybody is."
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