Bristol City and Yu Hirakawa are looking for a “win-win” solution to the winger’s game time “problem” this January, Gerhard Struber has explained, with the Robins boss keen to do what is best for the Japanese international.

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Hirakawa, who initially joined the Reds on loan from Machida Zelvia 18 months ago, saw his stay at Ashton Gate made permanent last winter. Then under the management of Liam Manning, City opted to hand the 25-year-old an three-and-a-half-year deal, which isn’t set to expire until the summer of 2028.

After a mixed first term in English football, supporters were keen to see the Japan international kick on under Struber, but – as was the case in the second half of last season – the winger has struggled for regular minutes in red and white.

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So far this campaign, Hirakawa has started just three of the Robins’ 26 league games. With George Earthy’s return to BS3 now confirmed, it is hard to see where the 25-year-old is likely to force his way into the fold, something that Struber is more than aware of.

“It’s not easy at the moment for him,” the head coach told Bristol Live on Wednesday afternoon. “I think that the picture doesn’t change too much, and he’s a player, I would say, [who] would need game time.

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“We are looking together [at] what we can do with him [so] that in the end, we realise a win-win. I feel again sorry for him that he’s been a little bit not in a winning direction on the way here, so we have to look together [at] what is the best for him and how we can solve this problem.”

When asked if a loan move for the second half of the season could be the solution, Struber added, “We will see what is, in the end, the best. This must be, of course, a really good club.

“He’s on a good level, and he’s, I would say, super close to being a starter player here, but it’s only close, and no one is really happy with the game time that he realised. He would deserve more, but here the competition is really difficult.

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“We work in this way, and hopefully, we can realise something where everyone, especially Yu, is really happy.”

Hirakawa is by no means the only player currently struggling for regular first-team football at Ashton Gate. The likes of Fally Mayulu, Haydon Roberts and Harry Cornick – who Bristol Live understands is close to leaving south Bristol on loan – have also been little more than bit-part players under Struber.

Having been the subject of transfer interest in the summer, Roberts’ future has again been brought into question this month, with the 23-year-old’s current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

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Although a departure this January is not out of the question for the left-sided defender, particularly if he is keen to play more regular football, his head coach would have no issue if he remains a City player come the start of February.

“Nothing on my table at the moment,” Struber said on the speculation surrounding the defender. “Of course, I would understand when he has ideas to move; the game time the last few months was not really high, and I have an understanding for his personal interests in this way.

“The door would be open; on the same time, I am really happy with how he did and how professional he was in the last few months without the game time.

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“He was, in all the games – when he jumped in – always reliable, always on a good level, so Haydon Roberts is a really good professional player, and I would have absolutely no problem when he stays.”

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