Nigel Pearson has confirmed Jay Dasilva will be fit to take on Hull City in Bristol City’s final home game of the season with the Robins manager praising the former Chelsea defender’s attitude and commitment to winning back his affections in a challenging season.
Pearson admits that after a meeting in November, which coincided with a number of alarming individual displays, Dasilva’s future at the club appeared “not particularly secure” with the January transfer window approaching.
Bristol Live understands a number of loan offers were made for the 24-year-old but City were only willing to let Dasilva leave on a permanent deal and instead he remained at Ashton Gate before fighting his way back into the team.
Dasilva’s chance was initially granted in an unfamiliar right wing-back role at Fulham but after showing his professionalism in sacrificing his natural instincts for the team, by filling in on the right flank, he was subsequently restored to his more familiar left-sided position.
Dasilva, who missed last weekend’s win at Derby due to an ankle injury, has grown in stature over the last two months, to the point that outside of the forward players, he can be considered the Robins most reliable performer in the final quarter of the campaign.
Such has been the turnaround that Pearson is now speaking in terms of being “delighted to have him for next season”, with no indication that Dasilva will be available for transfer this summer, compared to the previous window.
“He’ll be available for the weekend,” Pearson told Robins TV. “It’s a great story because before (in) November, when we had a conversation, Jay’s time here didn’t appear to be particularly secure.
“I’ve never had any doubt he’s a terrific footballer but he’s doing what the team needs now; he’s doing the leg work, he’s a really intelligent footballer and I’m just delighted he’s going to be here next year.
“Things can change in football and it’s really up to players’ ability to fight for themselves, as much as anything, and I’ve been alluding to that for a long time.
“It’s really important we have here a group of people who work here who have a drive to improve, not just themselves but as a collective.”
Dasilva is likely to replace Ayman Benarous in the starting XI, as the teenager played as a left wing-back, for the second time this season, at Derby but whose more natural role is as a central playmaker or wide forward.
Benarous is likely to at least remain in the matchday 18 as Pearson admitted earlier this week his selections for Hull and Huddersfield on the final day of the season will have one eye on next season, having made a decision on the departures of a number of individuals.
Those seemingly without a future at the club will not be included this week or next, while young talent such as Benarous, forwards Sam Bell and Tommy Conway, midfielder Josh Owers and centre-back Duncan Idehen could be granted game time.
Idehen made his debut in the second half at Pride Park and impressed in the 18 minutes he was on the field, having only joined the club in January.
"I'm a big believer in giving opportunities when it's appropriate," Pearson said. "He's come through pretty quickly, in terms of my awareness of him, but when he's trained with us, over the last two months, from being almost quite shy, he's very excited to make his debut.
"I wasn't worried about him and I don't know whether to pay a bigger compliment. I didn't think at any stage during the game, it was a risk to put him on because he's a good natural defender."
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