Bird hamstring injury is 'big blow' - Hodgson

Bristol City manager Roy Hodgson said the loss of midfielder Max Bird to a hamstring injury is a "big blow". Bird went off in the closing stages of the Robins' 0-0 draw with QPR last week and is expected to be out for at least two weeks, putting his chances of featuring again this season in doubt. "He's [Bird] been doing very well for us, to lose him after the last game was a real disappointment," Hodgson said.

The Robins boss added that midfielder Joe Williams has also suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring issue. Now should be the time for Hodgson to tinker Dickie, Tanner and Williams nearing injury returns Bird has been besieged by injuries for much of the season but made 11 consecutive league appearances since his return in February until his latest setback. "Unfortunately, every time you get a muscle injury they grade them - 1A, 1B - even if you get the lightest one, 1A, it's still two to three weeks which under normal circumstances in a long season you can deal with happening, but [not] when there's not many weeks to go and many matches," Hodgson said.

"He hopes and the medical department hope to have him ready for selection again for the final game and I know that Max is going to be working hard to try and do that. " Williams, meanwhile, has also seen his campaign almost totally disrupted by injury . An ankle injury suffered during pre-season ruled him out until February, and he managed just 30 minutes across two games before a hamstring injury put him back on the sidelines.

"He's had a recurrence of an injury, so it's exceptionally hard for him," Hodgson said. "When you work that hard to get back and be a part of the squad again, and then you get a little smell of it, a taste of it, and a couple of sessions later you're out again. " Latest Bristol City news, analysis and fan views Listen to Bristol City content on BBC Sounds