Skubala hopes to have Dickie back before Christmas

Bristol City manager Michael Skubala has provided an encouraging fitness update on centre-back Rob Dickie, revealing that the defender could return to action before Christmas following an injury scare last month. According to reporting from Bbc, Dickie was carried off the pitch on a stretcher after clutching his knee midway through the second half of a match against Lincoln City. At the time, the severity of the problem remained unclear going into the international break, but subsequent assessments have brought reassuring news for the Bristol City squad.

The initial reaction to the defender's exit at Lincoln City caused significant concern among supporters, but those fears have since been eased. As detailed by Kooora, the manager confirmed that the physical issue was not nearly as "sinister" as first thought.

"It's not as bad as we first thought, so that's great,"

Media additions

Michael Skubala, Manager, via BBC and Kooora

Dickie is already progressing well in his recovery and is nearing a return to grass training on his own.

"He is nearly on the grass starting to get back on his own, that won't be season-ending,"

Michael Skubala, Manager, via BBC and Kooora

Skubala added, explicitly ruling out any fears of a season-ending layoff and giving the team a major boost.

Further elaborating on the recovery timeline, Skubala stated,

"We're really happy that we think we'll see him before Christmas maybe even earlier, so that's good news, it's not anything too sinister."

Michael Skubala, Manager, via BBC and Kooora

Skubala also characterised the team's overall position by noting, I'd call it a solid start but with much headroom for growth according to BBC reporting.

While the defensive ranks await Dickie's eventual return, the squad receives a simultaneous injection of depth through the availability of long-absent personnel. Fellow defender Luke McNally is officially available for selection for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in February 2025. McNally proved his sharpness by scoring a goal during a friendly match against Crystal Palace, marking his first unofficial start for the club since his extensive rehabilitation period began.

Managing McNally's reintegration will require careful tactical oversight from the coaching staff. Skubala noted that the challenge lies in player management rather than raw ability, pointing out that McNally might be available for weekend fixtures like a Saturday match but potentially restricted from playing in midweek fixtures such as a Tuesday game.

"He's there for selection, the challenge is probably not every game,"

Michael Skubala, Manager, via BBC and Kooora

Skubala explained, adding,

"It's a different one with how we manage Luke - he could be available on a Saturday but not a Tuesday."

Michael Skubala, Manager, via BBC and Kooora

Skubala further remarked, He can definitely be thrown into the hat with selection which is another good problem for me to have, I thought he was looking strong.

Joining McNally in returning to the fold is midfielder Brian De Keersmaecker. The Belgian player has yet to make his official debut for the Robins following his loan move from Oxford United, having missed competitive football since February due to a shoulder injury that ended his prior season. Skubala confirmed that De Keersmaecker is fully fit, match-ready, and positioned differently in his recovery timeline compared to McNally.

"He's fit, he's ready to go, he's ready for selection. He's built up, he's in a different place to Luke in terms of injury,"

Michael Skubala, Manager, via BBC

Skubala stated.

Squad Fitness Status

Player	Position	Injury Type	Current Status
Rob Dickie	Centre-back	Knee	Nearing grass training, targeted to return before Christmas
Luke McNally	Defender	Knee (February 2025)	Available for selection with careful management
Brian De Keersmaecker	Midfielder	Shoulder (February)	Fully fit and ready for debut selection

The convergence of these fitness updates transforms the defensive and midfield options available to the coaching staff. Skubala described having these returning players back in contention as a welcome challenge when finalising matchday squads. Meanwhile, the team continues to build on what the manager previously characterised as a solid campaign start that retains significant headroom for further growth.

Supporters looking ahead to the upcoming fixtures will monitor how quickly Dickie progresses from individual training back into full contact sessions. In the meantime, the immediate availability of McNally and De Keersmaecker provides vital reinforcements for upcoming matches as Bristol City pushes forward with its season objectives.