Alex Scott has given Bristol City an injury scare ahead of Saturday's Championship encounter with Reading after hobbling off injured in the 83rd minute of England Under-20's 1-1 draw with France in Marbella.
The Robins midfielder was involved in a hefty collision with his opponent while attempting to block a strike inside his own area. He went down holding his right leg and looked in discomfort as the physios came on to provide treatment.
After a brief moment, Scott limped towards the edge of the pitch and finally made his way back into the game as play continued. He carried for around two minutes but wasn't moving freely, often holding his leg before deciding to hit the ground when the ball went out of play.
The physio came back onto the field but manager Ian Foster wasn't going to take any further risks and instantly substituted him for the remaining seven minutes of the tightly-contested game. At the full-time whistle, Scott did make his way across the pitch to head back into the changing room.
Hopefully, given City's injury crisis before the international break where seven senior players were sidelined, it is nothing serious but Nigel Pearson may face an anxious 48 hours before determining the severity of the issue. It was Scott's third game during the international break, having started in two while coming on as a late substitute in the 4-2 victory over USA.
He's been an ever-present in the City side this season with only Zak Vyner earning more league minutes. Scott has started 37 out of 38 Championship matches, recently progressing into a more advanced midfield role to help support the forward line with the ability to carry the ball upfield.
His injury threatened to tarnish what was another accomplished individual performance. Scott played in a midfield two alongside the talented Chelsea star Carney Chukwuemeka - the pair instrumental to England's Under-19 Euro success last summer.
Scott's first half was a very typical Scott-like performance. No player in the Championship has won more free-kicks this season and in the first half alone he won five, drawing his French opponents towards him and waiting for the challenge before hitting the ground.
One of those, around 20 minutes into the game, had him in discomfort which initially seemed ominous but he was quickly back to his feet to provide the first moment's worry of the afternoon.
He played no part in either goal during the opening 45 minutes. Harvey Vale's brilliant free-kick finding the Bashir-Humphreys who had made the run behind the defenders. Then for the equaliser, some lovely link-up play saw France break the offside trap before sticking the ball into the net.
Around 30 minutes into the contest, Scott should have doubled England's tally from six-yards out. He sauntered into the area unmarked and headed Vale's cross onto the outside of the right post with the keeper well beaten.
Scott knew he should have scored as he trudged back into his position with his head in his hands and it's evidence that his finishing is the one part of his game he will be looking to improve. However, it was the timing of his movement into the area, evading the marking of his defenders that was particularly encouraging.
Those runs into the area from deep have been more notable in his performances during the last few months, particularly since he started playing in the No10 position for City.
There were glimpses of his footwork under pressure, including a passage of play inside France's half when he wriggled past the challenges of three blue shirts before being forced to turn away from goal. He was also making challenges of his own, one of those being a strong one on the edge of his own area.
In the 57th minute, he would have had his heart in his mouth for a brief moment when he made a risky tackle inside the area on his opponent who had made a darting run forward. The Frenchman went down under Scott's outstretched leg but the referee waved away appeals that looked dubious at the time.
Just a minute after, he made an important interception toward the edge of his own box with Scott seemingly happy to stay deep with Chukwuemeka making those runs forward down the left. As France looked for a winner, it was a brave block by Scott that led to him coming off.
Cox then ensured England would earn a point right at the end when he made a superb save down low to his right to deny a header from six-yards.
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