Bristol City Manager Says Gibson Yah Needs Up To Seven Days To Recover From Knock

Bristol City manager Michael Skubala expects Gibson Yah to return to full training within a week after the midfielder missed the Robins' recent victory over Bolton Wanderers. Yah was not included in the matchday squad for Saturday's fixture at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. The Dutchman sustained a knock during the previous match against Stoke City, which prevented him from participating in any team sessions this week.

Skubala told BBC Radio Bristol before the match that Yah's absence was frustrating because the player had begun to build rhythm in the lineup. The manager estimated the recovery period at approximately seven days. This timeline places Yah on the borderline for availability against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday evening at Ashton Gate. Yah had started each of City's last three matches before the Bolton trip. His last appearance in a win dates back to August, when the Robins defeated Portsmouth at home.

City secured a 3-2 win over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. Dom Ballard gave the visitors an early lead in the first half. Josh Sheehan and Sam Dalby scored for the hosts to put Bolton ahead with one hour of play remaining. Sam Bell equalized late in the match, and Scott Twine scored in stoppage time to secure the points. This marked the first win for Bristol City in five matches following the extended international break. It was also the first victory since August where Yah did not feature.

Rob Dickie was also absent from the matchday squad. The vice-captain has been sidelined with a knee injury since before the international break. He was carried off the field on a stretcher during a match against Lincoln City. Skubala confirmed that Dickie had returned to first-team training in the lead-up to the Bolton game. However, the manager decided to leave the defender out of the squad entirely. Skubala stated that Dickie was not yet match-sharp enough to contribute. The manager noted that Dickie has been out for some time and will continue training this week.

Skubala provided the update on Dickie during a pre-match press conference held on Thursday afternoon at the Robins High Performance Centre. The manager did not mention Yah's injury during that same session. This omission surprised some observers given Yah's sudden exclusion from the squad for the trip to Lancashire. Skubala added after the final whistle that he is monitoring Yah's condition closely. He plans to assess whether the midfielder can rejoin training this week.

The Robins face a busy schedule in the coming days. The match against Wolverhampton Wanderers serves as the penultimate fixture before the November international break. Cesar Peixeto's Wolves are considered promotion contenders in the Championship. Bristol City will then host Norwich City on Saturday lunchtime. That match will be broadcast on Sky Sports. Skubala is expected to provide further updates on the availability of both Yah and Dickie when he meets the media in the days leading up to the midweek clash.

The win over Bolton lifted the team's record after a difficult stretch. The goals from Ballard, Bell, and Twine were decisive in the final minutes of the game. Skubala acknowledged the importance of the points but kept the focus on the squad's physical readiness for the upcoming fixtures. The manager emphasized the need for patience in the recovery process for both injured players. He indicated that decisions regarding their inclusion in future squads will be based on their progress in training during the week.