Kelly impresses amid defensive injuries

He partnered Eros Pisano as City's two centre-halves against Plymouth Argyle, before shifting to left-back as the game progressed.

The pair were given the nod in place of Adam Webster, who made an appearance off the bench after starting City's two league games to date, while others are missing through injury.

Club captain Bailey Wright (quad) remains out, while Jens Hegeler (hip) isn't yet match ready and Nathan Baker and Taylor Moore (both ankle) are also recovering.

"I thought Lloyd Kelly was excellent," Johnson said in his post-match press conference last night.

"I thought he was fantastic. There was one pass I was disappointed with, he played it with the outside of his boot which was more of an attitude error, rather than a technical error, but apart from that he was outstanding in the way he read the the game: he’s strong, quick, competed with headers and he’s smooth on the ball.”

However the head coach added: "We have centre-halves out injured: Jens Hegeler, Taylor Moore, Bailey Wright, Nathan Baker and our young loaned out centre-halves too….it’s caught up with us."

Baker has suffered an ankle injury, with the head coach revealing he is "touch and go for the weekend” when City host Middlesbrough.

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