Robins Down To The Bare Bones

City manager Gary Johnson has spoken of how his squad have been reduced to the bare bones as more injury and illness sweeps the camp.

Johnson refused to name the latest players who have gone down with the bug with Saturday’s crunch game with in-form Scunthorpe on his mind.

“Sadly I have to report more players have shown symptoms today,” Johnson told bcfc.co.uk.

“We are doing all we can to alleviate the problem but it’s hard and everyone has to be extra vigilant.

“We have to deal with it and then pick the fittest players able to go out and do the job.

City have had to deal without Bradley Orr, Lewin Nyatanga, David Clarkson, John Akinde and Danny Haynes in recent weeks whilst Dean Gerken, Louis Carey and Nicky Maynard fell to the curse before Tuesday’s game at Swansea.

“Nick Dawes, our head physio, is a lovely bloke but I don’t want to answer his calls right now. He’s the grim reaper as far as I’m concerned and is always bringing me bad news.”

Johnson revealed influential skipper Louis Carey and goalie Dean Gerken will both miss the game but that the sliver lining was the return of top scorer Nicky Maynard, who missed the draw with Swansea in midweek.

“He should be available to us which is a massive boost.”