Nigel Pearson is keen to keep expectations in check for a frustrated Kane Wilson including the player himself as he continues to await a regular opportunity in the first-team.
The right wing-back's arrival this summer was met with plenty of excitement coming in on the back of winning the League Two Player of the Year during Forest Green Rovers' promotion run. There was also a sense of relief that the manager had addressed an ongoing problem position last season with a young, naturally attacking wide player.
Competition for his signature was understandably high considering his contract at his former side had expired but Wilson was sold by the club's vision, its geographical location and the Premier League facilities including the High Performance Centre.
However, he has only seen 58 minutes of league football this season as he awaits his first Championship start. He has started both of City's Carabao Cup victories, scoring against Wycombe, and played 90 minutes in the Under-21's 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday last week to maintain his match fitness.
Although he can consider himself unlucky not to have earned more minutes as a knock picked up before the start of the season saw Pearson opt for Mark Sykes at wing-back when arguably Wilson was ahead in the pecking order leading up to the curtain raiser with Hull.
As Pearson referenced, Sykes has well and truly repaid the manager's faith with an excellent start to life at City. When he was sent off in the win over Luton, the manager then opted for Alex Scott in Sykes' absence.
The City manager said: "Kane's had a frustrating time for himself just because he had a really good pre-season. He suffered an injury before the start of the season and has been kept out the side by a very accomplished performance level of Mark Sykes and Alex Scott's played there as well.
"That would have been a frustration for him but I remind myself as well that I think it's important for other people to remember that he's making a step up of two leagues. My expectations for him are probably more realistic than other people, including his own.
"He'll get his opportunity at some point and he's got to make sure when he gets his chance, then for the team, it has to be as seamless as possible.
"When you make changes to the starting XI, it's really important that players bring their own strengths and their own elements of their own game. But it's also important that they are able to fit into what the team does and one of our strengths this year is that we've been able to be unchanged and also how we play is more evident this year."
With Sykes likely to start at Norwich on Wednesday, Wilson is under no illusions about the task at hand to break into the starting XI. There have been glimpses of his ability during the cameos in which he has featured. Speaking after the Wycombe game, he wanted to reassure supporters that they will get to see the real Kane in the near future.
"It's been tough. There's no denying that but I've got no worries," he said. "I knew I had to be patient and there's no guarantee that would come to anything but I just waited for my turn and hopefully take it when it comes. To be honest, it probably has taken a little bit of time to get settled and you're right - it's new surroundings, meeting new players and different cultures.
"Everyone's been really good with me and I'm still settling in now. I don't know how long it will take to see the full Kane but I hope that it will come soon and then we can take off."
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
READ NEXT
