Nigel Pearson doesn’t expect Tomas Kalas to return to first-team duty for Bristol City until “October or November”, with the Czech Republic international still managing an ongoing knee problem.
Kalas hasn’t played for City since March after sustaining a groin injury and underwent surgery at the end of last season, although it wasn’t disclosed what type of operation it was at the time. The 29-year-old has previously experienced knee trouble, most notably during the 2019/20 campaign where he had constant tendinitis in the joint over the first half of the season.
Speaking to Robins TV on Wednesday, Pearson didn’t disclose exactly what the injury was but admitted in early August, after Kalas had taken part in an open training session at Ashton Gate, his knee was causing him discomfort and affecting his ability to play in a competitive match.
“Tomas, because of the type of injury that he’s had, it's a bit of a slow recovery but he will hopefully be back in the mix with us in the autumn,” Pearson said. “He’s had a procedure which is quite a difficult one to get to, so, I’ve said it before, he’s played with a bit of discomfort for a while now and we’ll just see how this one progresses.
“But hopefully he’ll be back sometime in maybe October or November which will be good for us because we operate with a tight squad.”
The latest prognosis leaves Pearson with just four senior fit centre-backs in first-choice trio Rob Atkinson, Kal Naismith and Zak Vyner, while Timm Klose played for the Under-21s in midweek after overcoming a minor knee issue the previous week.
Pearson has experimented with full-back George Tanner as a right-sided centre-back in the Carabao Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers and the 23-year-old lined up in the position for the U21s in their 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Monday.
City do have a glut of promising young centre-backs in the youth set-up in Joe Low, Raphael Araoye and Jamie Knight-Lebel, while Ryley Towler and Duncan Idehen are out on loan at League Two clubs AFC Wimbledon and Carlisle United, respectively, but ideally Pearson would not have to turn to the academy.
Kalas’ injury further emphasises why the manager was keen to add another centre-back at the end of the summer window but finances, and a lack of player sales, prevented that becoming a possibility.
There is still the option of adding an experienced figure through free agency with Sol Bamba having trained with the club since the middle of August but there has been no update on Pearson’s likely decision around the 37-year-old.
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