Bristol City team news ahead of Portsmouth as Chris Hogg shares Marcus McGuane injury update

Bristol City assistant manager Chris Hogg has confirmed that Marcus McGuane is "fully fit" ahead of the Robins' clash with Portsmouth after the midfielder was ruled out of last weekend's win over Plymouth Argyle through injury.

The former Oxford United man was a surprise absentee against Wayne Rooney's side last time out, with Max Bird joining Jason Knight in the middle of the park in his absence.

Liam Manning had confirmed ahead of the 4-0 win at Ashton Gate that the 25-year-old had suffered a back spasm on the eve of the game and McGuane could be seen walking to his seat behind the City dugout rather gingerly before kick-off.

READ MORE: 'Rolls Royce of a defender' - How Jamie Knight-Lebel is faring after Bristol City loan exit

READ MORE: Nahki Wells shares Bristol City contract update as striker enters final months of Robins deal

However, Hogg revealed that the combative midfielder had returned to first-team training earlier this week and would be ready to feature when the Reds make the trip to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon.

"It was a little back spasm with Marcus," Hogg confirmed in a pre-match press conference on Wednesday. "I was winding him because I do a lot of driving and I was saying he's like an old man because it's similar to my back already and I know how that feels.

"But yeah, a little back spasm and he's trained this week so he's back fully fit."

Bristol City have been left slightly short of options in recent weeks, particularly at right-back where Ross McCrorie, George Tanner and Mark Sykes have all been stuck to the treatment table as they contend with their own fitness issues.

Although Hogg admits Saturday afternoon's trip to the south coast will have come too early for any of those players to return to the fold, the 39-year-old insists that the right-sided trio and Kal Naismith are all "close" to returning to the matchday squad.

"The rest of the group has been pretty good," said the assistant head coach. "We've got boys returning now on the grass with the medical and sports science departments who are getting closer. George Tanner, Kal Naismith's been outside as well, as have Ross [McCrorie] and Syksey as well. Those four boys have been out on the grass and are progressing pretty nicely so fingers crossed that in the coming weeks, we can see them returning.

"[The weekend] will probably be too soon for the boys I've mentioned there but they are getting back close which will be good for us in the coming weeks."

City supporters will have to likely wait a bit longer to see Joe Williams return to the fold after Manning admitted earlier this season that the former Everton man was facing a lengthy spell on the sidelined having suffered an Achilles injury against Preston North End before the international break.

Alongside the 27-year-old, young midfielders Ayman Benarous and Adam Murphy seem to be a way away from returning to first-team action. Murphy is yet to make an appearance in City colours having joined from St Patrick's Athletic last January while Benarous' last competitive appearance for the Reds came back in 2022 with the 21-year-old suffering two ACL injuries and multiple other setbacks.

While Hogg didn't put a timeframe on when either player could potentially return, the Robins assistant head coach did admit both youngsters were continuing to work with City's medical staff currently.

"Both pretty similar really where they've been at the longer term," admitted Hogg. "They're both trying to get their bodies back and going. Murph has been fit and been involved with the under-21s a couple of times, trained and stuff. But they're more long-term and still with the medical staff."

READ MORE: Marcus McGuane lifts lid on talks around international future with Bristol City teammates

READ MORE: Josh Stokes injury update emerges at Cambridge United after recent Bristol City U21 appearance