Bristol City and Gerhard Struber have been without both Cam Pring and Max O’Leary through injury so far this seasonBristol City players Max O’Leary and Cam Pring have missed the start of the season(Image: Getty Images)

Bristol City have to be “really patient” with Cam Pring, Gerhard Struber has admitted, with the left-sided defender still in the midst of his nine-to-12-week recovery from an ankle injury sustained in pre-season.

Pring is yet to feature for the Robins under Struber, having picked up an issue during the Reds’ warm-weather training camp in Portugal this summer. The academy graduate travelled with the rest of the City squad to the Algarve in July, but it was confirmed upon the team’s return to Bristol that he would be sidelined for around 12 weeks with a ligament injury that required surgery.

The confirmation from the Robins that the defender would be going under the knife came in mid-July, a little over seven weeks before the Reds’ trip to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

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Although Struber has previously suggested Pring’s recovery has been progressing well, he doesn’t want to rush the 27-year-old back into action any sooner than necessary.

“With Cam Pring, I would say we have to be patient,” the Robins head coach told Bristol Live in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon. “This can be between nine and 12 weeks right now.

“We have to be really patient with him, and this is my feedback at the moment.”

Unlike Pring, City goalkeeper Max O’Leary didn’t travel with the rest of Struber’s squad to the Algarve this summer. The Ireland international instead remained in Bristol to receive treatment on an ankle injury, having played much of the final weeks of last season with a similar issue, which was sustained in the warm-up ahead of the Reds’ clash with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

As was the case with Pring, O’Leary’s injury ultimately required surgery, which was conducted whilst the rest of his teammates were in Portugal. When the squad fitness update was published in mid-July, the suggestion was that the 28-year-old would be out of action for three to four months.

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In the number one’s absence, Manchester United loanee Radek Vitek has impressed over the course of the opening four games of the league campaign. While the Czech stopper’s displays between the posts will have ensured O’Leary will have to be at the top of his game to win back his starting spot, he has stepped up his recovery over the course of the September international break.

On the Ireland goalkeeper’s condition, Struber said, “Max O’Leary, he did good steps in the last few weeks, especially the last week.

“He is more involved in the normal goalkeeper training right now, and hopefully, he is back very soon.”

While longer-term absentees Luke McNally and Joe Williams are still also a way away from returning to the fold, the Reds have been boosted by the return of Max Bird in recent weeks. The midfielder made his first start of the season in City’s Carabao Cup defeat to Fulham before coming off of the bench to score in their win over Hull City last time out.

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Having been without him for almost the entirety of the Robins’ pre-season, Struber is relishing having the former Derby County man at his disposal.

“Right now, we realise – and I realised long before with all the games I’m shown of him – how important is he with his football intelligence and in more directions, he is of high value in this team,” the City boss explained. “Right now, I realised it on the pitch, in the training, and also in the game.

“I enjoy to see him with his attitude on the field and also, how hungry he is to show his power.

“He’s a very important player for us, and I’m super happy that he’s back on the typical Birdy way.”

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