Nigel Pearson admits Joe Williams is unlikely to start against Coventry City on Tuesday as Bristol City remind mindful over his injury issues and the need to keep him fit for the remainder of the campaign.
Williams was excellent against Middlesbrough in only his sixth start of the campaign as the 25-year-old played in the unique role of a "front sweeper", ahead of centre-backs Tomas Kalas and Timm Klose, helping the Robins look more defensively assured.
Since returning to first-team action in late January, City have very much limited his minutes and of his six appearances since then, he's averaged 44.8 per game, starting just twice. His 80 minutes on Saturday was also the most he's played in a single match since November.
Pearson has previously indicated that the former Wigan and Everton midfielder can't play multiple matches inside a week, and with Coventry City's arrival to Ashton Gate on Tuesday night that doesn't permit the necessary rest and recovery.
"This is Joe’s second year here and he’s not been available for a lot of it," Pearson said. "It’s been a frustrating time for him so what we’re trying to do is manage him and his own expectations into a position where when we use him we’re not fearful of him getting injured because he’s had some setbacks since he’s been here.
"He’s a really infectious, in a good way, person to have around because he’s a box of fireworks but he’s a really good player and he’s got good game understanding.
"It’s good to have him back and good to have him but you might not see him again on starting on Tuesday night because we have to make sure he’s going to be available for the rest of the season."
With Williams expected to return to the bench, that means that Pearson faces a bit of a conundrum regarding the system he deployed against Middlesbrough.
Although the manager is often reticent to talk up tactical decisions, the Robins unique 2-1-4-1-2 (or however you want to interpret it) needed the box-to-box energy and efficiency in possession of Williams to act as that screen in front of Kalas and Klose.
Matty James and Andy King remain out, the former until next month and the latter potentially for the rest of the season, so the most likely candidate to fulfil the role would be Han-Noah Massengo, although he may not possess the same positional discipline as Williams, or potentially even Zak Vyner.
"I’m not somebody that likes to talk technical terms, I get bored of hearing managers and coaches trying to explain to everybody how good they are by giving tactical sessions in press conferences," Pearson added.
"We did what we needed to do. It was a position that I think in the context of where he is suited him because he was in a deeper role and he’s got youth and energy either side of him and in front with Andi [Weimann].
"However it looked to you was right. It would sometimes be a diamond and sometimes he’d be in the back five. It doesn’t matter quite frankly. It’s what it looked like."
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