Transfer Centre

Lee Johnson: 'We will explore options before signing a new midfielder'

By Nicola Kenton | 13 October 2017

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson says that the club will 'explore all options' before deciding on signing a new midfielder in January.

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson has said that the club will 'explore all options' before deciding on signing a new midfielder in January.

Johnson's team is currently light in the midfield area, with Gary O'Neil undergoing successful surgery earlier this week

However, City have the likes of Marlon Park, Korey Smith and Josh Brownhill, as well as centre-back Jens Hegeler who can play in midfield.

"We've got a number of players who can play in midfield, depending on the formation," Johnson told the Bristol Post.

"We also have some young players doing very well. Joe Morrell is getting some experience with Cheltenham in league games. We've signed Tyreeq Bakinson from Luton and we have George Dowling who is at Torquay. While he had recently been injured, he was performing well before that.

"We're not scared of giving young players opportunities. Of course you try and improve all the time but we're always recruiting in that underbelly if you like. So we have to chuck them in at some point."

On the subject of the transfer window, Johnson added: "We will have to wait and see. A lot can happen. We might get some injuries or someone might some and try to purchase one of our players.

"Gary will be out until maybe the end of January – then we will make a decision. We will definitely look and make an informed decision on what we need. We will definitely look and make sure we've explored all options. We do like two players in each position but at the moment we can't do much about it."

City host Nigel Clough's Burton Albion in the Championship tonight and will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to 12 matches.