Nigel Pearson admits he will be "surprised" if Nathan Baker plays for Bristol City again this season, all-but ruling the centre-back out for the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign.
Baker hasn't returned to City training since suffering a concussion during the Robins 2-0 loss at Sheffield United on November 28 following a challenge with Blades defender Chris Basham.
After being treated on the field at Bramall Lane for 10 minutes the centre-back was taken to hospital and examined before he returned to Bristol where he has since been recovering at home.
It's the second such injury the 30-year-old has sustained in the space of a few weeks, having also been forced off against West Brom on October 23 which kept him out for three weeks.
However, this absence is likely to be considerably longer given the severity of the injury and the overall concern regarding not just Baker's short but also long-term health.
"We have to be prepared for the fact we might not see him again this season" Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol's Sound of the City. "I understand people's concerns and there is a necessity to find out timescales.
"Because of the two concussions he's had, in the short period of time and the nature of them, and the fact how he plays, it's very, very difficult to put a timeframe on that.
"Again, one of the hard things is to explain to people is how important it is that actually his welfare has to come first. And that's a very difficult thing on a purely football front.
"I like him a lot as a player, he's incredibly brace and hence why he's probably exposed to getting these types of concussions.
"If we see him again this season I'll be delighted but I might be a it surprised as well. I think we have to be prepared there may not be another appearance for him this season and we'll see how it goes."
Baker signed a two-year contract last summer after having initially been released by the Robins and had been a regular in Pearson's defence this season, starting as centre-back or left-back.
His absence does leave the Robins short in defence, and also explains why Ryley Towler was recalled from his loan at Grimsby Town, although the 19-year-old is currently out with a back injury.
Without Baker, Pearson has Tomas Kalas, Zak Vyner and Rob Atkinson as his only senior and specialist centre-backs with Cam Pring operating in the role over the last two-and-a-half games, despite being a more natural wide player.
Pearson does have Robbie Cundy, with the 25-year-old making his own injury recovery having been out with a knee injury for the first half of the season. But after back-to-back appearances for the Under-23s, the 25-year-old was not included in the squad against Swansea City on Monday night.
Last week Pearson indicated he also has no intention of recalling Taylor Moore from his season-long loan at Hearts.
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