Stefan Bajic is yet to make a Championship appearance despite joining Bristol City in the summer of 2022Stefan Bajic is yet to make a Championship appearance for Bristol City(Image: Photo by Rogan/Bristol City)

Liam Manning insists Stefan Bajic has trained “really well” and labelled the Bristol City goalkeeper’s attitude “terrific” ahead of his side’s clash with Sunderland, with the Reds facing a Max O’Leary decision for the visit of the Black Cats.

Regis Le Bris’ side travel to the West Country on Good Friday to face City in what is, at the moment at least, the Robins’ penultimate home game of the season. Sunderland currently sit fourth in the Championship, one place but 12 points ahead of the Reds and have already managed to secure their place in the play-offs.

O’Leary has started all 42 Championship games City have played so far this season, including last weekend’s 1-1 draw with QPR at Loftus Road. Although the 28-year-old managed to play the full 90 minutes in West London, he rolled his ankle in the warm-up and has only managed to do a “little bit” of training since, with Manning confirming a decision would be made on Thursday over whether or not the academy graduate is able to start against the Black Cats.

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If O’Leary is ruled out, which the Reds are hopeful he won’t be, it would pave the way for second choice ‘keeper Bajic to make his first Championship start since arriving at Ashton Gate in the summer of 2022. Although the 23-year-old’s competitive minutes have been incredibly limited throughout his time in BS3, Manning believes his work on the training ground and his recent outings for the Under-21s will stand him in good stead if he’s called into action.

“Stef’s trained really well and played in the Under-21s,” the head coach said in his pre-match press conference at the HPC. “I was down there watching it on Monday to see how he got on.

“It’s one of those, until we’re in that situation, until it has to happen, we deal with it. It’s the same as we hadn’t planned for Syksey to drop out in the warm-up but things happen in life that get thrown at you. You have to kind of roll with it. We plan everything, we’re prepared, we’ve done all the work, we control what we can and there are bits along the way that you can’t and you then have to be reactive. Then, in those moments, it’s about staying calm, staying together, staying focused and yeah, we’ll see.

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“He’s played numerous games this year Stef,” the head coach continued. “If you look at it across the course of the season, it’s not the first time he’s played so it’s not a reaction off the back of it.

“He’s asked to play before, he wants to play. You say he’s not played football but he trains hard every day with Pat [Mountain] and he’s played numerous Under-21 games so I get the stage is different but ultimately, you take the stage away and football’s football, right?

“I get to see him every day and his attitude is terrific.”

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Bajic started for the Young Robins in their 4-2 win over Wigan Athletic Under-21s on Monday afternoon at Ashton Gate. Although the Frenchman conceded twice, he could do little about either goal. The first came in the first half when Taine Anderson diverted a pass over the 23-year-old’s head and into his own net while the second was a penalty which Le Graham smashed into the top left corner late on.

While nothing will be decided by Friday’s meeting with Sunderland, the Reds have an excellent opportunity to boost their hopes of a top six finish, particularly with fellow play-off hopefuls West Brom and Coventry City meeting at the CBS Arena.

A win over the Black Cats will ensure City remain in the play-off places heading into the final two games of the campaign, regardless of what happens against Luton Town on Easter Monday.

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