Bristol City boss Steve Coppell will almost certainly be forced back into the transfer market in order to find a replacement for Sam Vokes. Signed on loan from Premier League Wolves last week, the 20-year-old Wales international centre-forward was carried off just 13 minutes into his debut in Saturday's Championship opener against Millwall at Ashton Gate. City's medical staff diagnosed a damaged hamstring and Vokes was sent for a hospital scan in Bristol yesterday afternoon. Although Coppell is still awaiting the results, he fears the 6ft striker could be sidelined for a considerable time.
Bristol Evening Post
England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce insists the door has not been closed on David James' international career. Left out of Fabio Capello's squad for tomorrow night's friendly encounter with Hungary at Wembley, Bristol City's 40-year-old goalkeeper fears he may have played for his country for the last time. But Pearce, inset, in Bristol ahead of tonight's Under-21 clash with Uzbekistan at Ashton Gate, refuses to rule out the possibility of a recall for the former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Portsmouth star, who featured in three of England's four games at this summer's World Cup finals. Under pressure from the media and the public to drop the old guard following the Three Lions' dismal showing in South Africa, Capello has turned to Manchester City stopper Joe Hart, who is expected to start in front of Birmingham City goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Bristol Evening Post
Stuart Pearce has tipped David James to bounce back from his recent England snub and reclaim his spot in the national squad. Former Portsmouth goalkeeper James, who recently dropped out of the Premier League to link up with Championship club Bristol City, has been overlooked by Three Lions manager Fabio Capello for Wednesday's international friendly against Hungary at Wembley. But while admitting the 40-year-old will have been "hurt" by the omission, England Under-21s boss Pearce is confident he can recover from the setback.
Sky Sports
On-loan striker Sam Vokes is set to have a scan to determine the extent of the hamstring injury suffered on his Bristol City debut. Vokes, on loan from Wolves, lasted just 13 minutes after coming off the bench as a second-half substitute in City's 3-0 home defeat to Millwall on Saturday.
Sky Sports
Southend United manager Paul Sturrock is aiming to improve his wretched cup record this evening. Blues host Bristol City at Roots Hall in the opening round of the Carling Cup. And Sturrock, who has advanced in to the second round of the competition just once in his last six attempts, is keen to cause an upset. "My cup record is shocking and it would be nice if we could change that" said the Scotsman.
Southend Echo
