Walsall's League Two rivals Bristol City are set to welcome back key players Emil Riis and Yu Hirakawa ahead of their Carabao Cup tie against the Saddlers. The pair have been missing from pre-season friendlies due to niggles, but are now expected to return to full team training on Monday. This could see them feature against Walsall on Thursday, although manager Michael Skubala has not ruled out the possibility of them being ready for the first league game against Millwall instead.
What happened?
Bristol City have been building towards their Carabao Cup tie against Walsall since returning to the High Performance Centre for pre-season testing in late June. The Robins have been working on their training approach, tweaking their sessions to prepare for the "real stuff" of the season. Skubala has confirmed that the pair will return to full team training on Monday, and could be in contention to feature against Walsall.
Why it matters for Walsall
The return of Riis and Hirakawa is a significant boost for Bristol City ahead of their Carabao Cup tie against Walsall. The pair have been key players for the Robins, and their absence has been felt in pre-season friendlies. If they are able to feature against Walsall, it could give the Saddlers a tough test in the Carabao Cup.
What comes next?
Walsall will face Bristol City in the Carabao Cup on Thursday, with the Saddlers looking to cause an upset against their League Two rivals. The game will be a test of Walsall's abilities, and could be a key moment in their season. With Riis and Hirakawa potentially returning to the fold, Bristol City will be looking to make a strong start to the season.
Next fixture: vs Rochdale (away, 2027-02-20) (1st in the table).
