Vyner Set For Cup Return

The 19-year-old spent the first half of this season on loan at Accrington Stanley, but will now complete the campaign at Ashton Gate, competing for a starting role.

He will have the perfect opportunity to stake his claim against top-flight opposition this weekend, as he is poised to start in the absence of Adam Matthews and Mark Little.

Midfielders Gary O’Neil  and Korey Smith are also set to be absent through injury, City’s boss confirmed at his weekly news conference.

The other concern is Lee Tomlin, who has been struck down with illness since Sunday.

Johnson told Bristol City Player HD: “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that with Adam and Mark unavailable, Zak is going to get his chance – but he deserves it.

“He’s gone away and played regularly for Accrington. You can see already that he’s grown as a player.

“He won’t be going back out on loan, he’s with us now and it’s up to him to compete for the shirt.”

On Tomlin, Johnson said: “He’s going to try and do some work on the training ground today but the sickness bug has left him really weak. We’ll have to see how he is.”

Johnson also reported that the injuries sustained by both O’Neil and Little at Nottingham Forest last weekend were “not as bad as first feared”.