Nigel Pearson's wish for consistency from his Bristol City team is being held back by a number of factors, but injuries to key men stands out as an underlying influence.
Pearson has simply not been able to get his best XI onto the field at the same time with sufficient regularity as although the Robins injury list hasn't been significant in volume, certainly not in comparison to last season, there's always been at least one integral individual absent.
That looks set to continue on Saturday against Preston North End with assistant Curtis Fleming admitting they have to remain careful over Matty James' status and further investigations are required to get to the bottom of Rob Atkinson and Andy King's problems.
Matty James
Injury: Foot
Last played: January 2 vs Millwall
City continue to be mindful over the midfielder's foot injury which saw him miss five games in November and a further four since it flared up in training again following the win over Millwall.
James has been wearing a protective boot to manage the injury with Fleming outlining the issue is with his plantar fascia - the ligament on the bottom of the foot that connects the heel to the front foot and supports the arch.
"Every time he touches the ground, it's sore," Fleming said. "It's something we've had to work on, we're just settling it down and gauging it as he goes with getting that pain down.
"Jamo is a sensible enough guy but he's desperate to get back in; he loves the games, he loves the playing, he gets fed up.
"We can get him to run out on the pitch and do different checks, turning and sprinting and getting down and jumping and headers but we need to make sure it doesn't come back to him, like Joe (Williams), 20 minutes into a game, where you've rushed it and you haven't done everything that you can.
"He's an important player for us and we're desperate to get him back in but we have to be careful."
Andy King
Injury: Hamstring
Last played: January 22 vs Cardiff
Andy King left the field early in last Saturday's Severnside Derby against Cardiff City and won't be available for the trip to Deepdale as the Robins medical team continue to assess the extent of the injury.
King missed two months from October to December with a hamstring injury which seems to be the same problem that has sidelined him this time around.
After undergoing a scan earlier in the week, along with defender Rob Atkinson, City are now seeking further consultation on the issue given King's age and the fact he had only just returned from the same injury.
"We're just getting them assessed again and making sure everything is right with the two of them. We'll just have another look at that, I don't expect them to be out a long time," Fleming said.
"Kingy is different because he's come back from that injury before and it's something you need to let settle down."
Rob Atkinson
Injury: Back
Last played: January 22 vs Cardiff
Like King, Atkinson left the field in the first-half against the Bluebirds and, like his midfield colleague, the 23-year-old has undergone two sets of scans this week to try and determine the severity of the issue, all-but ruling him out of Saturday's clash.
Atkinson is experiencing back spasms and a problem with his calf - an injury that kept him out of the Coventry City game in November - but Fleming seemed confident that his problems won't lead to a lengthy absence although did admit he is "quite sore".
With Atkinson and Nathan Baker out, Pearson's centre-back options for Saturday remain Tomas Kalas, Zak Vyner and Cam Pring, who's been drafted in at left-sided centre-back.
George Tanner
Injury: Hamstring
Last played: December 30 vs QPR
The right-back is recovering from a recurrence of the hamstring injury he first suffered in November and isn't expected back until at least the end of February.
Pearson's original diagnosis was that the 22-year-old would be out for, "a couple of months" and that timeframe remains with no indication he's returned to training yet.
Nathan Baker
Injury: Concussion
Last played: November 28 vs Sheffield United
The centre-back continues to recover at home following his second concussion of the season with Pearson admitting last week that he'd be surprised to see the 30-year-old play again this season.
Baker's absence has been a major reason why City look to be close to signing Timm Klose with the Robins defence lacking in height and aerial proficiency.
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