Bristol City have swooped to sign the tallest player in English football - Wolves' 6ft 7½ins striker Stefan Maierhofer. Gary Johnson made the loan move after Chris Iwelumo opted to return to Molineux after a month at Ashton Gate. Maierhofer, 27, goes straight into the squad for tonight's West Championship derby with Plymouth at Home Park and will stay with City until at least April 11. The Austrian giant will give City the option of playing a direct brand of football on Plymouth's notoriously poor pitch, while Maierhofer can gain much-needed match practice as he has only played in two reserve games since he had a hernia operation in January. Maierhofer said: "Many interviewers in Austria compare me to Peter Crouch. He's an unbelievable player - a very good striker who has scored lots of goals throughout his career.
Bristol Evening Post
It wasn't hard to see the irony when Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard won an award for the Football League's best goal of 2009 last weekend. Maynard's strike in the 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers on Boxing Day was a truly superb effort. But it is the only goal he has scored since October, giving him a record of just one in 20 matches after a hot start to the campaign when he got ten in 15. City have slid down the table since then and Maynard knows the Robins must find the net more often to arrest an alarming run. Tonight they face fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.
Bristol Evening Post
Plymouth Argyle have defensive problems ahead of the visit of Bristol City to Home Park tonight. Burnley loanee Richard Eckersley, who has been playing at left-back for the Pilgrims, suffered a groin injury and had to be substituted early in the second half of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Coventry. And Icelandic centre half Kari Arnason, who scored Plymouth's goal on the brink of halftime at the Ricoh Arena, is a doubt with a calf injury.
Plymouth Herald
Argyle head coach Paul Mariner is keeping his cards close to his chest about whether winger Yannick Bolasie will start against Bristol City tonight. Bolasie made his full debut for the Pilgrims in the 1-1 draw with Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday. Mariner described the performance of the fleet-footed 20-year-old as "absolutely fantastic." But he has refused to confirm that Bolasie will be in Argyle's starting line-up at Home Park this evening. Mariner replied "maybe" when asked whether Bolasie would be in the side against Bristol City.
Plymouth Herald
Argyle will be forced into yet another defensive reshuffle when they take on Bristol City at Home Park tonight. Richard Eckersley, the Pilgrims' loanee from Burnley, has been ruled out by the groin injury he suffered in the 1-1 draw at Coventry City. Eckersley, 21, was making only his third appearance for Argyle, and his first at left-back, when he limped out of the action at the Ricoh Arena. He is the latest addition to a long list of Argyle defenders who have been hit by injuries this season. That has undoubtedly been one of the factors behind the Pilgrims' struggles in the Championship.
Plymouth Herald
Wolves striker Stefan Maierhofer has joined Bristol City on a 28-day emergency loan. The 27-year-old Austrian striker has swapped places with Chris Iwelumo, who returned to Molineux on Monday after a successful month on loan at Ashton Gate. Maierhofer's loan is due to expire on April 11 and will take in seven games, starting with Tuesday's Coca-Cola Championship clash at Plymouth.
Daily Mail
Bristol City have signed Austria international striker Stefan Maierhofer on a 28-day emergency loan from Premier League side Wolves. The 27-year-old trades places with Chris Iwelumo, who has returned to Molineux after a month-long loan spell at Ashton Gate. Maierhofer joined Wolves from Rapid Vienna in the summer but has made just two starts.
BBC Sport
Stefan Maierhofer has joined Bristol City on loan following Chris Iwelumo's return to Wolves. Iwelumo has impressed during his time at Ashton Gate and Robins manager Gary Johnson had hoped to keep him for longer. However, Johnson's disappointment at losing Iwelumo will be tempered by the arrival of his Wolves team-mate Maierhofer. The 27-year-old Austrian striker has linked up with Bristol City on a 28-day emergency deal and will be available for Tuesday's clash at Plymouth.
Sky Sports
