Liam Manning has shed some light on Yu Hirakawa's future at Bristol City admitting it would not make sense for the Robins to sign him on loan without seeing a permanent deal through.

Hirakawa was the Reds' second signing of the summer transfer window, making the move to Ashton Gate on a season-long loan from Machida Zelvia with a view to signing a permanent contract in the West Country.

Having seen the start of his City career delayed by an injury sustained whilst away with Japan at the Olympics, the winger made an instant impression with goals in wins against both Middlesbrough and Preston North End. However, the 24-year-old has found regular minutes hard to come by in recent weeks, starting just two of the Robins' last nine matches in all competitions.

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Although Hirakawa hasn't scored since his controversial opener in the 3-1 win at Deepdale in November, Manning insists he is continuing to progress and adapt to the English game despite not having any real break in the lead-up to the season.

"He's in a good spot, Yu," explained the Reds head coach on Wednesday afternoon. "We always assess certain bits on match minutes and outcomes from games. I've said it before, you have to bear in mind the stage of his season.

"By the time the season is finished, it will be 18 months solid for him. He's not someone who has got 300 games and 10 seasons under his belt, he's actually still quite young in terms of games and volumes of seasons so it's a long season for him.

"I think he's someone that can have a real high impact, I saw it again in training. I think energy and freshness is really, really important for him as well. He's someone that, like I said, we brought him here for of course the short-term impact but also for the medium and long term as well.

"He's progressing, his English is getting better, he's getting adjusted to the weather up here and he's one that will continue to have an impact between now and the end of the season and it wouldn't be a bit of a surprise to me if there's a little bit of a break and you then see him go again, to another level."

Hirakawa's loan move is set to expire at the end of the Championship season. While Bristol City signed him with a view to a permanent switch, as of the time of writing, there has been no official confirmation from the club that the 24-year-old will remain at Ashton Gate beyond the end of the current campaign.

Although Manning kept his cards close to his chest in regard to whether or not any decision had yet been made around the Japanese youth international, he emphasised the fact that the Robins never signed Hirakawa with the plan of him only being in the West Country for a single season.

"We like him. We brought him here with the intention of it being more than just a loan," Manning said. "Like I said, it's really tough the move that he's made.

"It wouldn't surprise me, like I said if it was beyond this season that you really see the best of him so for me, why bring him in on loan and not see it through."

Hirakawa will have a chance to add to his goal tally in City colours when the Robins travel to the Kassam Stadium to face Oxford United on Saturday lunchtime. Gary Rowett's side have been in impressive form since he took over from Des Buckingham, but a win for Manning's Reds would see them move level with the play-off positions, even if only for a couple of hours.

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