Liam Manning has confirmed that Bristol City's New Year's Day clash with Plymouth Argyle will come "too soon" for Mark Sykes to make his return from injury, but insists the winger is "very close" to a comeback.

The Robins begin 2025 with a trip to Home Park to face Wayne Rooney's side on Wednesday as they look to secure a third consecutive win having beaten both Luton Town and Portsmouth over the festive period.

Argyle currently sit bottom of the Championship table and are without a win in their last nine matches and ended 2024 with a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.

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Sykes hasn't featured for City since he was substituted just six minutes into their 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United before the November international break. Although the injury was understood to be minor at the time, the Ireland international suffered a small setback which delayed his return. While he won't be ready to feature against the Pilgrims, Manning says both he and Kal Naismith should be fit and available soon.

"No," the head coach said when asked if anyone would return to the fold at Home Park. "They're very close. [Sinclair Armstrong] is getting there. He's a little bit behind Naisy and Syksey. Syksey we expect him back in training fairly soon to be fair. Plymouth will come too soon but we'll have to see.

"Joe Williams is doing some running on one of the treadmills and I saw him outside with a pair of boots on for the first time in a while so he's another big one that we've got to come back as well. When we add those, we've got even more depth and competition than we've already got.

Sunday's win over Portsmouth saw Nahki Wells return to the starting XI having not featured against either West Brom or Luton Town as a result of a minor injury. The Bermudian international was in fine form as he combined well with Anis Mehmeti as City secured a 3-0 win.

Although Manning will be reluctant to make too many changes to the team that beat Pompey at Ashton Gate, he admits that he will have to see how the 34-year-old reacts before deciding whether or not he is ready to lead the line again at Home Park.

"Possibly," Manning smiled when asked if Wells could start two games in such quick succession. "I think it's one of those where you have to feed off of the players a little bit and see how they are. We were able to make changes relatively early into the second half.

"For me, we go into every game to win that game and don't always think too far ahead. I think sometimes you can be a little bit too cute and clever with changes and freshening people up and sometimes I think when the lads have won a game and are performing well, bouncing with the rhythm and momentum is equally important so we'll see how the lads are tomorrow and then we'll get ready."

While Bristol City do come into this New Year's Day clash as favourites as a result of Plymouth Argyle's recent poor form, Rooney's side have been much more effective at home this season than they have been on the road.

Manning knows that supporters will expect his side to start 2025 with a win, but he also insists that the Pilgrims will provide a different test.

"Any game at this level is a challenge," explained the 39-year-old. "I know people have expectations but teams are well coached and have players that are dangerous. You have to do all the work and show them 100 per cent of the respect they deserve and we will do.

"We'll take what we want from today in terms of the attacking stuff and the confidence from it, but it's a completely different challenge. It's a tough place to go and you only have to look at their results to see that. We won't be taking it lightly at all, we'll be going there and know that we'll have to be at our best to get anything from the game.

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