Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber says midfielder Adam Randell is “ready” to play at Norwich City, dismissing social-media claims of a fresh injury setback.
The Robins return to Championship action at Carrow Road after the international break, looking to halt a 4-match winless run with several senior midfielders still sidelined.
What Happened and Why It Matters
Struber moved quickly to address speculation that Randell had picked up a training-ground issue this week, stressing the 25-year-old has trained fully since Monday and is in contention for Saturday. The clarification arrives at a delicate time for City, who remain without Jason Knight, Joe Williams and Max Bird, narrowing options in the centre of the pitch just as the fixture list stiffens.
City sit 19th after 9 matches, 2 points above the relegation zone, and require a positive response after defeat in the East Anglian derby last time out. Randell, a summer signing from Plymouth Argyle and the first recruit of the Struber era, has started all 9 league games so far, blending set-piece delivery with tidy distribution at the base of midfield.
If this rumour is true which looks very likely as heard from a couple of people that Randell is now out injured then @BristolCity are in a mess , to have all 4 centre midfield players out injured at the same time is even by City standards complete new chaos levels 😳 https://t.co/5mwdCct9Yg pic.twitter.com/qO6cIrMrW0
— Bristoldelboy (@Bristoldelboy2) October 13, 2025
In recent weeks, injuries forced Struber to pair Randell with defender Zak Vyner in midfield, a stop-gap that highlighted the squad’s adaptability but also underlined the need for a specialist presence in the No 6 role.
Addressing the rumours, Struber said the midfielder has hit the required intensity throughout the week:
“I think social media is always some special, but I can say this very clear: from Monday on he is always involved in every training. He’s trained to a really good level, so I don’t know where the rumour has come from, but he’s ready. Outstanding, ready.”
Reaction, Impact, and What Comes Next
Clarity over Randell’s fitness steadies City’s pre-match narrative and allows Struber to focus on selection details rather than contingency plans. With Knight, Williams and Bird still out, the holding role is pivotal: it connects the centre-backs to the first line of progression, dictates pressing triggers, and shields transitions when possession turns over.
Randell’s presence should help City escape pressure at Carrow Road, where Norwich typically press high under Liam Manning and look to force hurried clearances into midfield traps.
GOAL: #BristolCity 1-1 Derby County, Woodrow 49. #BRCvDER pic.twitter.com/4A4t5wCZNd
— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) September 16, 2017
From a tactical perspective, expect City to use Randell as the single pivot when building, dropping between or alongside the centre-backs to give full-backs licence to advance. That structure has been evident in City’s better periods this season, especially during the 1-1 draw at Derby County when Randell’s tempo control and angles through the thirds helped the Robins bypass the first line and attack with width.
The Robins still need results to match their intent, but having a key midfielder available restores balance at a crucial moment. With fixtures compressing after the break, stabilising the centre of the pitch is step one. If City can pair Randell’s metronome with sharper final-third execution, the path away from the bottom reaches of the table becomes clearer — starting at Norwich.
