Rob Dickie update as Gerhard Struber shares Bristol City injury latest ahead of Oxford visit | Bristol Live

Gerhard Struber has provided an update on Rob Dickie ahead of Bristol City's clash with Oxford United at Ashton Gate

Rob Dickie is expected to be ready and available to feature for Bristol City against Oxford United this weekend, Gerhard Struber has confirmed, despite being withdrawn at half-time during the Robins’ win over Sheffield Wednesday last time out.

The Reds are set to welcome Gary Rowett’s side to Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon as they look to stretch their unbeaten start to the Championship campaign to six matches. Oxford have had a difficult start to the new term, failing to win any of their first five league games, but the U’s have drawn each of their last two against Leicester City and Coventry City.

City, on the other hand, come into this weekend’s clash off of the back of their most comfortable win of the campaign so far. Last Saturday saw Struber’s side cruise to a 3-0 win over Wednesday at Hillsborough, courtesy of a Harry Amass own-goal and first-half strikes from Emil Riis and Anis Mehmeti.

While it was a routine afternoon for the Robins, there was one slight worry as Dickie was withdrawn at the break as a precaution, having felt his calf. That change seems to have helped the defender avoid a more severe injury, with Struber set to be able to call upon the 29-year-old against the U's.

“Yeah, right now he’s ready,” the head coach replied when asked in his pre-match press conference if the defender would be fit to feature this weekend. “I think we have an individual load with him the last few days.

“But right now it looks very good and he's available on Sunday.”

When asked if the rest of his squad had come through their win at Hillsborough unscathed, Struber added, “Yes, the rest of the squad looks ready.”

Last weekend's trip to the Steel City also saw the Robins' latest recruit Neto Borges make his first appearance in red and white after making the loan switch to Ashton Gate from Middlesbrough on the penultimate day of the summer transfer window.

On what was his 29th birthday, the Brazilian played the final four minutes, plus stoppage time, in place of Ross McCrorie at left wing-back. While his opportunity to impact the game was understandably limited given the stage at which he was introduced, he played a couple of smart forward passes to offer a hint of what he could bring to Struber's side.

Prior to his late move to BS3, Borges' competitive minutes were limited under Rob Edwards at the Riverside, with his only start coming against Doncaster Rovers in the first round of the Carabao Cup. Naturally, that has meant the defender has needed to build up both his fitness and sharpness in his first few weeks in the West Country.

Although he has only further progressed in the days since his debut at Hillsborough, City find themselves in a comfortable position where the other options at their disposal mean they don't need to thrust Borges straight into the starting line-up against Oxford.

"I think he made also the last few days, really good steps and also in our typical way of how we want to play," Struber told Bristol Live on Thursday afternoon. "We have no stress with all our power that he must be on Sunday a starter player, we have also very good selection on players that can help us in this position.

"But, of course, he is also a player that gives us, like I say last week, a little bit of a different phase, a little bit of a different understanding from his footballing interpretation.

"This is also something, especially over the whole season, that we are in more directions unpredictable."