Taylor set to have hernia operation

The former Bristol Rovers striker will spend around a month on the sidelines following the surgery.

City head coach Lee Johnson confirmed the latest regarding injuries to BCTV, ahead of the trip to Bolton Wanderers later in the week.

He also provided a boost regarding Gary O'Neil who has returned to full training following a long-term hamstring injury.

The veteran midfielder underwent surgery to fix the recurring problem to the hamstring ligaments at the back of his knee.

He is now working on fitness recovery after playing just four times in August for the Robins.

INJURY ROUND-UP

Johnson has also provided updates on Frank Fielding (groin), defenders Eros Pisano (hamstring) and Jens Hegeler (knee), winger Callum O'Dowda (ankle) and striker Milan Djuric (groin).

Regarding Taylor, Johnson said: "There has been interest in Matty Taylor (for loan moves) even with him missing probably four weeks after the surgery. I’d say it’s 80% that he’ll stay with us.

"He is definitely in my long-term plans. He’s been unfortunate with injuries and will go in for a hernia operation in the coming days.”

On O'Neil, Johnson said: "He is in full training now, he's catching up with his lungs in terms of football fitness. He's an experienced player, has good lungs anyway and he will naturally catch up.

"We just need to ease him in, he's no spring chicken and we need to make sure he doesn't break down again and we have the luxury of that as well in that our midfielders are playing really well."

FIELDING PROGRESS, PISANO SETBACK

Fielding was forced to come off at half-time away at Derby County after suffering a groin injury, and it was anticipated that the goalkeeper could miss three weeks of action.

However, Johnson provided positive news: "I think Frankie has advanced a bit quicker than we thought.

"We have to take it easy but he's feeling good, the bruising has come and gone from his thigh area so it's the case of building him up to be able to strike a ball again. We hope that will be sooner rather than later."

Italian right-back Pisano hasn't been seen in a City shirt since October 31st, when he tore his hamstring off the bone during the 2-0 win at Fulham.

City's head coach added: "Eros has had a setback. He's not feeling as comfortable as he was, as he thought he might be with his running so we've taken him back a stage.

"He's easing back into the stage of running on the grass.

"It's different running on grass compared to a treadmill, where you can jump it and it runs under you; with grass you claw it under you and push it away so that's the next test. That will happen over the next couple of days and then we will ease him in.

"The estimate is we're probably two-to-three weeks away from seeing him in an Under-23 game."

CITY PAIR FURTHER AWAY

As for the longer-term pair of Hegeler, O'Dowda and Djuric, Johnson added: "They're further away. Both a progressing well and healing well but they have longer-term injuries so we don't expect to see them in February.

"We made the decision to send Milan Djuric back to Italy to make sure the power output is good and level both sides of his groin.

"We're getting there but we're probably going to allow him to go back to the specialist for another week-to-ten-days as of now but after a good meeting with the specialist we feel we can kick on with him now."

WATCH: JOHNSON ON BOLTON AWAY