Liam Manning shares Fally Mayulu expectation beyond 'unfortunate' loan away from Bristol City | Bristol Live

Fally Mayulu joined Bristol City from Rapid Vienna last summer but departed Ashton Gate on loan during the winter transfer window

Liam Manning has confirmed that he expects Fally Mayulu to return to Bristol City for pre-season, with the Robins boss planning to speak to the forward in the summer following his "unfortunate" spell on loan with Sturm Graz this season.

Mayulu joined City last summer, making the permanent move to Ashton Gate from Rapid Vienna as the first addition of the transfer window, and the Frenchman couldn't have got off to a better start. In his first two Championship appearances, both of which came off the bench, he scored against Hull City and Millwall to raise expectations among supporters.

However, the 22-year-old started just once in the Reds' opening 21 league matches before struggling in back-to-back starts against West Brom and Luton Town over the festive period. Having led the line in the Robins' FA Cup defeat to Wolves, Mayulu was left out of City's next three matchday squads before completing his loan move back to Austria.

Manning explained at the time of the deal that the intention was to provide the young striker with more consistent minutes than could be offered in BS3 to continue his development. Ultimately, things haven't quite worked out as planned, with Mayulu limited to just one league appearance as a result of injury.

While Manning's focus has naturally been elsewhere over the course of the final weeks of the season, given the Reds' play-off campaign, is expecting to catch up with the forward in the coming weeks.

"I haven't spoken to anyone," the head coach told Bristol Live when asked if he'd spoken to Mayulu since his injury. "It's on my to-do list after obviously so much energy went into yesterday.

"Now that that's done, I'll be catching up with a few of the lads who have been out on loan. He's unfortunate with his injury, so I'll speak to him in the summer, see how he is, and I'll expect him back here pre-season.

"I think it's expectation, right? " Manning continued when asked if the forward had a future at Ashton Gate after his difficult first season. "In terms of, of course, when you're signing someone, there's an expectation that they should come in, hit the ground firing and you want it straight away and now.

"You have to remember again how young he is. I know he looks so imposing physically, but moving away from home and doing those things for someone that's actually really young is quite challenging. Ultimately, he's a potential risk purely because of the fact you're signing him on potential as much as current performance. We always try to weigh the two up, and Fally's got some really interesting attributes.

"He's technically very good, his size, and he can move. It's probably impatience on both ends from everybody wanting everything now, which, when you're in the market we're in, very rarely are we signing players who are ready to go now, and that's why sometimes you have to be a little bit patient with them."

Following Mayulu's exit in January, the Robins have navigated the second half of the season with Nahki Wells and Sinclair Armstrong as their only recognised striking options. While both Sam Bell and Harry Cornick have featured in a more central role at times this season, Manning's options have been limited at the top end of the pitch, and most supporters believe signing a new centre-forward should be a priority for the second summer in a row.

Though transfer plans and budgets are currently being organised following the end of the Reds' play-off campaign, Steve Lansdown confirmed in an interview with BBC Radio Bristol ahead of the second leg against Sheffield United that the need for another number nine has been recognised.

Only time will tell whether or not that is a forward to play alongside Mayulu, or instead of him.