Christian Ribeiro has withdrawn from the Wales Under-21 squad to focus on regaining full fitness for City.

The defender has endured a frustrating pre-season, troubled by a back injury picked up on duty for the Wales full squad.

Christian, like skipper Louis Carey, has now returned to training and is expected to step up that training in the next ten days before being back in contention for first team action.

He had been called up by his country's under-21 squad for a friendly in Malta tonight, but opted against travelling.

He told bcfc.co.uk: "I want to make sure I get myself right for Bristol City and I'm just pleased to be back training again now."

Writing in his online thetalkofsport.com blog, Christian admits he can't remember how the injury first came about.

"The back's fine now and I'm back in full training again this week," he says.

"I've been running for a few weeks now and working really hard to stay as fit as possible and not get too far behind the other lads.

"Hopefully within a couple of weeks I'll be available for selection again. I suppose you could say I've had my own mini pre-season.

"I don't actually remember how the injury came about. The back began to stiffen up when I was away with Wales and I don't think it ever healed properly. It was all very strange and innocuous.

"It's taken two months to get over it and it's so frustrating because when you hurt your back it's like you can't move at all. But, like I said, I've been working hard off the field doing extra exercises and so on, so fingers crossed I'm over it now."

Read the full blog - including Christian's thoughts on new boss Steve Coppell and recent signing David James - via thetalkofsport.com.

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