Fally Mayulu replaced Sinclair Armstrong in the closing exchanges of Bristol City’s win over Birmingham City at Ashton Gate

17:20, 29 Oct 2025Updated 17:21, 29 Oct 2025

Fally Mayulu is yet to start a game for Bristol City under Gerhard Struber(Image: Rogan/ Bristol City)

Fally Mayulu needs to improve his “football fitness” by playing more regular minutes, according to Gerhard Struber, with the Bristol City boss not ruling out the possibility of the forward featuring for the Under-21s to build to “a higher level.”

Mayulu, who is yet to start a game for the Robins under Struber, made his fifth league appearance of the campaign as a second-half substitute in the Reds’ 1-0 win over Birmingham City last time out. The 23-year-old replaced Sinclair Armstrong for the final 16 minutes and injury time at Ashton Gate as City claimed a third successive victory.

In his cameo, which was his longest outing in the Championship so far this term, the Frenchman struggled to get overly involved in proceedings. Perhaps his most eye-catching moment came in the closing exchanges when he opted to try and beat his marker on the edge of Blues’ penalty area, rather than pass to Yu Hirakawa, who appeared to be headed for the corner.

READ MORE: Emil Riis latest as Gerhard Struber details Bristol City’s ‘big mission’ amid Reds’ injury woesREAD MORE: Bristol City disciplinary latest ahead of Stoke City test with Zak Vyner on suspension tightrope

Naturally, having played just 37 minutes of league football across the first 12 weeks of the season, Struber doesn’t feel Mayulu is quite at his sharpest – something which has proven difficult to change with his lack of regular competitive minutes.

“We could see that, in the end, he has [had] not so much game time in the last few months,” the head coach told Bristol Live when asked about Mayulu’s showing against Blues. “You can see also that his level of football fitness needs a little bit of improvement, but we have a big belief in him.

“He has, in the end, also a potential that he can help us in the end, but of course, we have to bring him in more and more game time [so] that he is in the end able to help the group.”

Sign up for our City newsletter

Bristol City looking to build on last season’s play-off finish under Gerhard Struber and you won’t miss a beat with our free newsletter.

All the latest news, views, interviews, gossip and analysis concerning the Robins, delivered straight to your inbox.

It’s completely free and you can sign up HERE

On the prospect of that game time coming with the Under-21s, Struber added, “We think about that. Yes, we could use the Under-21s a little bit more for the one or other player [so] that their football fitness grows on a higher level.

“I think you can train, of course, many things – also isolated runs – but in the end, you need a 90 minutes. 90 minutes is the best help to jump back into the real world of football, and especially of the fitness that you want.”

Mayulu’s current situation is not massively different from the one faced by fellow City striker Armstrong a matter of weeks ago. Like the Frenchman, Armstrong had struggled for regular minutes in the opening months of the campaign, but earned a starting role against Birmingham after positive showings off the bench against both Norwich City and Southampton.

The Ireland international reaped the reward for his hard work against the Blues on Saturday, when he scored his first goal in more than 10 months to ultimately ensure all three points would remain in the West Country.

Bristol City Live on Whatsapp

Join Bristol City Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol City stories sent straight to your phone

Bristol City Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.

Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol City news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.

To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.

We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.

To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Click here to join our WhatsApp community.

After the win against Chris Davies’ side, Struber suggested Armstrong could serve as a role model for other members of his City squad whose minutes had been limited during the early stages of the season. While that remains the case, the Reds boss recognises that those players also need to be patient and have the drive required to earn their opportunity.

“For every single player, there is the pathway,” Struber explained. “The clear message [is], when you believe strongly in yourself – also in difficult moments, and I think every single player has times, maybe you’re a starter player, maybe you come from the bench. In times like that – you have to be ambitious and you have to be with the long breath on the way and not moaning.

“In this way, I would say Sincs did a really good job. We helped him, like also the other players that have not had so much game time at the moment, and then it’s a question of time when you can help the group.

“Sinclair, right now, he did it on a really good way.”

READ MORE: What Olly Thomas did to catch Gerhard Struber’s eye after Bristol City prospect makes Reds debutREAD MORE: Every word Gerhard Struber said on Blues win, Armstrong example, Bristol City standard and more