Bristol City, Gerhard Struber and Max Bird travel to Pride Park to face Derby County on Friday eveningMax Bird is yet to start a game for Bristol City this season(Image: EFL)

Max Bird is “very close” to being considered for a starting role after returning from injury, Gerhard Struber has confirmed ahead of Bristol City’s clash with Derby County, while the rest of the Reds squad came through their draw with Charlton Athletic unscathed.

The Robins travel to Pride Park to face the Rams on Friday evening as they look to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to four matches against John Eustace’s side. Derby are one of six Championship sides without a league win so far this season, having been beaten 5-3 by Coventry City last time out.

Eustace’s side kicked off their second successive campaign in the second tier with an opening day defeat to Stoke City, before booking their place in the second round of the Carabao Cup with a penalty shoot-out win over West Brom. But as they were beaten by the Sky Blues last weekend, City were held to a 0-0 draw by Charlton.

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Having returned from injury to play the final 15 minutes of the Robins’ League Cup clash with MK Dons, Bird managed 33 minutes against the Addicks. Although Struber has yet to decide whether or not the midfielder will start against his former side on Friday, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility, even if it means a change of formation in the middle of the park.

“Yeah, he’s very close to being a starter player, and we will see,” the City boss told Bristol Live in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon. “I will take my decision on Friday, but of course, he is close.

“He is, for us, a key player, but he knows also, from the same time, that he was out for, I would say, the whole pre-season, so we will see. But he’s ready, and he’s also very excited to play against Derby.

“Maybe all three players we see?” Struber continued when asked if it was a good headache to have all of Bird, Adam Randell, and Jason Knight competing for two starting positions. “We will see what’s going on, on Friday night.”

Finally, when asked if any new injuries had been picked up during the Charlton stalemate, the Austrian simply said: “No, everything is ok at the moment.”

While there is a chance Bird could start for the first time this season at Pride Park, supporters will have to wait a little longer to see Joe Williams back in red and white. The Reds confirmed on Tuesday morning that the 28-year-old had suffered a setback in his injury recovery, which will see him sidelined for the best part of the next eight weeks.

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Williams sustained an ankle injury in the first leg of the Robins’ play-off semi-final clash with Sheffield United last season, and City’s medical team had been hopeful he would be fit and available for the start of the campaign. However, he is now more likely to be involved after the October international break.

Although Struber is disappointed for both Williams and the rest of the team, he has called for patience when it comes to the remainder of the midfielder’s recovery.

“We were a little bit surprised about the situation around him,” the head coach explained. “He was in the recovery programme, and we realised again that he’s not ready and he’s had a little bit of a setback.

“He feels not ready with his leg, and in this way, I think we have to be patient.

“We know that, for us, he’s a big key in our team, and I feel sorry for him but also for the team.”

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