Nigel Pearson has challenged Cam Pring to continue pushing himself to the next level and believes he has more to offer.
The City defender has started the last two matches on the left of a back three due to injuries to Kal Naismith and Tomas Kalas, while illness to Rob Atkinson and Timm Klose further reduced Pearson's options in defence. He grasped his rare opportunity following a frustrating six months on the sidelines.
Pring, 24, was left out of the matchday squad for 10 of City's first 12 league games of the season and had to wait until the defeat at Birmingham last month to get a taste of Championship action. He has started in both of the Carabao Cup victories earlier in the campaign.
Pearson admitted he hasn't waivered in his view that Pring's best position is at left wing-back despite his last two showings in the middle, which suggests that he will find himself challenging for that spot with Jay Dasilva when the Robins have a clean bill of health at the back.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the City manager said: "It’s through necessity that he’s had to play at centre-back and he’s still reluctant to get forward at times even with the pace that he has. I think he’s defended and played pretty well in the games.
"He’s a player that has been here for quite a while, maybe five, six years as a player, he’s been out on loan quite a few times. Last year was his breakthrough year if you like for us and he’s played as a wide player, as a wing-back, as a centre-back and did okay, but he’s got more to come.
"He needs to continue to push himself. In the same way we’ve just spoken about Zak (Vyner), my view is like that for Cam. He has genuine pace and he’s a powerful player and he needs to push himself, as well as us pushing him, and that’s the big thing.”
Pearson was heavily critical of his defence after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat against Sheffield United in a game which City dominated with 16 attempts on goal. The visitors capitalised on some poor defending from the Robins' perspective when Iliman Ndiaye was left unmarked at the back post.
The manager bemoaned his lack of reliable central defenders before stating his intentions to improve that area of the field if there's the scope to do any deals during the January transfer window.
As City prepare to take on Middlesbrough on Saturday, Pearson tasked his players with going back to basics with limited options available at his disposal. Kalas and Naismith remain out, Klose is out of form by the manager's admission, while Atkinson remains a doubt with illness. George Tanner also serves the first of his three-match ban following his red card in the week.
"Players who have come into the side recently both George Tanner and Cam Pring have done pretty well in their performances of late," he added "Unfortunately for us we are making errors which are costing us.
"Whether there is improvement or not, and I think there has been, what we do lack is that leadership at the back. I think that's where we miss Kal Naismith in particular but what I will say is Zak Vyner has improved tremendously this season.
"I always judge defenders on how reliable they are in terms of what they do to stop goals and it is a big bonus to have someone like Kal (Naismith) who can break lines with passes that get you up the field with real penetration. I think that's the difference. We just have to keep things simple at the back at the moment."
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