Blog

Alex Scott has given Bristol City an injury scare ahead of Saturday’s Championship game with Reading after going off injured in the 83rd minute of England’s Under-20 1-1 draw with France in Marbella.

The Robins midfielder was involved in a heavy collision with his opponent while trying to block a shot inside his own box. He fell clutching his right leg and looked uncomfortably as physical therapists came over to treat him.

After a brief moment, Scott limped to the edge of the field, eventually returning to the game as play continued. He charged for about two minutes, but he didn’t move freely, often clutching his leg before deciding to hit the ground when the ball was out of play.

The physio was back on the pitch, but manager Ian Foster was taking no further chances and replaced him on the spot for the remaining seven minutes of the hard-fought match. As the final whistle blew, Scott walked across the field to return to the locker room.

Hopefully, given City’s injury crisis before the international break in which seven veteran players were sidelined, it’s nothing serious, but Nigel Pearson can face an anxious 48 hours before determining the severity of the problem. It was Scott’s third game during the international break, as he started two and came on as a late substitute in a 4-2 win over the USA.

He has been an ever present at City this season and only Zak Vyner has earned more minutes in the league. Scott has started 37 of the 38 championship games, recently moving into a more advanced midfield role to help support the forward line with the ability to carry the ball upfield.

His injury threatened to mar what was another accomplished individual performance. Scott played midfield two alongside talented Chelsea star Carney Chukwuemeka, the pivotal pairing to England’s success at the Under-19 EURO last summer.

Scott’s first half was a very typical Scott performance. No player in the Championship has won more free kicks this season and in the first half alone he won five, drawing his French opponents to him and waiting for the challenge before falling to the ground.

One of them, around 20 minutes into the game, had him with a soreness that initially seemed sinister, but quickly rose to his feet to provide the first moment of concern of the afternoon.

He was not involved in either of the two goals during the first 45 minutes. Brilliant free-kick from Harvey Vale who found the Bashir-Humphreys who had run behind the defenders. Then, for the equalizer, a beautiful link play saw France break the offside trap before slotting the ball into the net.

Around 30 minutes into the game, Scott should have doubled England’s tally from six yards. He went into the box unmarked and headed in Vale’s cross just outside the right post with the goalkeeper well beaten.

Scott knew he should have scored as he returned to his position with his head in his hands and it’s evidence that his finishing is the only part of his game he’ll look to improve. However, it was the moment of his movement into the box, eluding the marking of his defenders that was particularly encouraging.

Those forays into the box from deep have been most notable in his performances in recent months, particularly since he started playing at City’s number 10 position.

There were flashes of his footwork under pressure, including a game passage inside the France half as he overcame challenges from three blue jerseys before being forced to move away from goal. He was also doing his own challenges, one of which was strong on the edge of his own box.

In the 57th minute, he would have had his heart in his mouth for a brief moment as he made a risky tackle inside the box on his opponent who had launched a forward run. The Frenchman fell under Scott’s outstretched leg, but appeals that seemed dubious at the time were dismissed by the referee.

Just a minute later, he made an important interception towards the edge of his own box with Scott seemingly happy to stay deep with Chukwuemeka making those runs to the left. As France searched for a winner, it was a gutsy block from Scott that led him out.

Cox then ensured England would win a point right at the end when he made a superb save from below to his right to avoid a header from six yards.

SIGN UP: to receive our daily Robins newsletter, featuring the latest from Ashton Gate

READ NEXT