--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-08-01T14:02:10.040Z last_updated: 2026-07-30T05:00:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/bristol-city/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnJpc3RvbHBvc3QuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZm9vdGJhbGwtbmV3cy9lbWlsLXJpaXMteXUtaGlyYWthd2EtaW5qdXJ5LTExMDg0MjQy --- # Riis and Hirakawa injury update after City pair miss Newcastle win - **Source:** - **Published:** 30 Jul - **Club:** Bristol City - **Original URL:** https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/emil-riis-yu-hirakawa-injury-11084242 Neither Riis nor Hirakawa were included in the Reds' matchday squad for Wednesday night's 4-1 friendly win over the Magpies at Ashton Gate. The duo were also not a part of the youthful City side that was beaten by Forest Green Rovers earlier that same evening. Goals from Sam Greenwood, Lorent Tolaj and Max Bird - as well as a Sven Botman own-goal late on - were enough to ensure that Harvey Barnes' second-half strike was little more than a consolation for Eddie Howe's side on what proved to be a positive night for the Robins. The only negative from a red-and-white perspective was that neither Hirakawa nor Riis managed to play their first minutes of pre-season, having also sat out the meetings with Stockport County, Newport County and Swindon Town. With the competitive campaign starting in a week, the duo may be up against the clock to feature against Walsall, but Skubala is adamant they're moving in the right direction. "Really good," City's manager replied when asked for the latest on the pair's condition. "They'll be back in some training in the next couple of days. That means maybe [they're] not quite [ready for] next week, but they're definitely on the mend. "They've had niggles, and we just don't want to take the risk. Like I say, it was Swindon when they had four hamstring [injuries] against us; we just don't want that at the moment. There are a couple of players there who we could have left out a bit longer, but again, we didn't want to take the risk with those players. All the latest news, views, interviews, gossip and analysis concerning the Robins, delivered straight to your inbox. It's completely free and you can sign up HERE "We're just trying to manage, push them and not break them. There's a skill, I think, in it. It's not always easy, but at the minute the sports science staff, the medical staff are working excellently to get players fit and healthy - and not risking but also pushing to get back, which is good." In their attempt to push, but not break, players, Skubala and his coaching staff once again shared minutes around the first-team squad against Newcastle on Wednesday evening. The Robins made three changes shortly after the hour mark, when Jed Wallace, a trialist - who Bristol Live understands to be former Luton Town striker Elijah Adebayo - and Scott Twine replaced Cam Pring, Lorent Tolaj and Max Bird. Three minutes later, six more alterations were made, with each of Noah Eile, Sam Bell, Rob Atkinson, Gibson Yah, Joe Williams and Marley Thelwell introduced. Join Bristol City Live's Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol City stories sent straight to your phone Bristol City Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community. Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol City news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone. To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team. We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like. To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Click here to join our WhatsApp community. Skubala made just one other substitution outside of those two windows. At half-time, the Reds boss introduced Elijah Morrison in place of Tomi Horvat on the right wing. That decision was not the result of any injury, however, with such a change planned in order to manage the Slovenian international's minutes. "No, no," Skubala replied when asked if the change was anything for fans to be worried about. "He played more minutes in the last game, so we just needed to manage his minutes because he'd done a little bit more than others. "That was more about just managing minutes over the course of the week just to keep him fit and healthy." Riis, Hirakawa, Horvat and all the other members of the City squad will have one final opportunity to build their fitness this weekend, ahead of next week's season opener against Walsall. The Reds face the prospect of a South West double-header, with trips to both Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City on the agenda for Saturday afternoon.