--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-07-24T19:38:22.511Z last_updated: 2026-07-24T14:34:34+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/bristol-city/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnJpc3RvbHBvc3QuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZm9vdGJhbGwtbmV3cy9uZXctZmFjZXMtbmV3LXJvbGVzLWxhdGVzdC0xMTA3NTEwNg --- # Four things to watch out for as Bristol City travel to Swindon Town - **Source:** - **Published:** 24 Jul - **Club:** Bristol City - **Original URL:** https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/new-faces-new-roles-latest-11075106 Still, fans travel in numbers to friendly fixtures to get an early look at their side and new signings in action before everyone else. For Bristol City supporters, that first opportunity, on these shores, comes this weekend against Swindon Town. Michael Skubala and his players will make the journey to The County Ground on Saturday afternoon to face Ian Holloway's Robins in their third friendly of the summer. Swindon finished last term ninth in League Two, three points shy of Grimsby Town and the play-off places. While it won't be the Reds' trickiest test of the summer, with Newcastle United, Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City all still on the agenda between now and the start of the season, it is expected to be a good challenge for City as the Championship campaign edges closer and closer. Ahead of the short trip along the M4, Bristol Live have picked out four things supporters should be looking out for as Skubala and City's preparations for the new season step up another gear... We'll start with a fairly obvious point. As we mentioned in the introduction, for most, Saturday's trip to The County Ground will be a first chance to see a Michael Skubala Bristol City team in action. Yes, a fair few supporters did make the trip to the Pinatar Arena last Friday to see the Robins take on Stockport County, but Tuesday afternoon's draw with Newport County was played behind closed doors at the High Performance Centre. The weekend's visit to Swindon will, therefore, probably have the most eyes on it of any City friendly so far this year. Now, there is always an element of intrigue around just how teams will set up after a summer spent on the grass, but those interest levels are spiked tenfold when there has been a change of manager over the off-season. 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 Outside of assumptions shaped by references from those involved at Lincoln, no one is exactly sure how Skubala's Robins will look to play. City's new manager admitted after his appointment that he is perhaps more adaptable than most, in an era where every coach has a playing philosophy. He has, over the course of his career so far, not been wedded to one method, formation or system. Because of that fact, how the Reds set up at The County Ground will likely offer the best insight so far into exactly what fans should expect to see week in and week out at Ashton Gate over the coming months. Of course, pre-season is a time for experimentation and taking risks, so what is seen on the pitch this weekend is unlikely to be the finished article. It will, however, be the best insight that most of us have had into the Robins' new manager and his methods since his appointment back in May. Once we've all had our first glimpse, we can truly start to get excited about the new campaign. I'm sure you don't need me to remind you that Bristol City have been rather busy on the transfer front this summer. At the time of writing, seven new faces have arrived through the High Performance Centre doors - Sam Tickle, Sam Greenwood, Gibson Yah, Jed Wallace, Lisav Eissat, Brad Collins and Lorent Tolaj - while three senior players have departed for pastures new - Sinclair Armstrong, Ross McCrorie and Joe Lumley. In some cases, it is obvious where those new additions will slot into Michael Skubala's plans. For example, expect to see Tickle between the posts on Saturday afternoon, Tolaj will almost certainly get some minutes up front and Greenwood will likely feature in attacking midfield. With a couple of others, though, it is less clear. If he is fit to feature after that head injury in Spain, will Eissat play as a centre-back or left-back? The Romanian international has played in both positions over the course of his career. While that adaptability is one of his primary assets, it will be interesting to see where he's utilised when Michael Skubala has - almost - a fully fit squad available. Perhaps just as interesting as the questions around how the new pieces will fit in the jigsaw is the possibility that the arrival of those new pieces could push those present from last season into new roles. For example, it has been noted by one or two present in Spain last weekend, and the eagle-eyed watchers of 'Robins Uncut', that Noah Eile has may have operated as a right-back at points over pre-season so far. While the Swede exclusively played as a centre-back under Gerhard Struber and Roy Hodgson following his deadline-day move from New York Red Bulls, the right side of a defence is an area in which City lack depth after McCrorie's departure. Should Eile share the load with George Tanner at right-back against Swindon on Saturday, it may suggest that Skubala views him as a solution to the slight problem the Reds have in that position. If that solution works over the course of pre-season, it could perhaps have a bearing on the Robins' transfer activity between now and the end of the summer. It has been a week in which Bristol City's Under-21s have been brought into focus with the appointment of Louis Carey as the Young Robins' new head coach. The return of the Reds' record appearance holder has, understandably, caused quite a buzz amongst supporters. Of course, the primary goal of Carey - or anyone in such a role - will be to ensure that City's homegrown talent can make the progression from the academy to the first-team, something I think everyone involved at Ashton Gate will admit hasn't happened quite often enough in recent years. In saying that, Michael Skubala has shown an early willingness to utilise the Reds' own. Jamie Knight-Lebel, Elijah Morrison, Leo Pecover, Marley Thelwell, Dan Ezendu, Taine Anderson and Freddie Godden all travelled to Spain for last week's training camp, while Luke Skinner and Jack Griffin were involved against Newport County. It is not unusual to see youngsters bedded into squads in the first few friendlies of the summer, with minutes typically shared around. The coming weeks, however, will likely show just where such prospects sit in the pecking order as City look to build towards Walsall in less than a fortnight's time. Given that aforementioned lack of depth at right-back, there may be a window of opportunity for Thelwell to stake his claim for a regular role. Similarly, with Luke McNally still a way away from full fitness, this is Knight-Lebel's chance to show that he can make the jump up to Championship level. Involvement against Swindon alone won't guarantee which youngsters do or don't figure in Skubala's plans for the upcoming campaign, but it will indicate just who from the Robins' own pathway has impressed the new manager. So far this pre-season, Michael Skubala has taken a very sensible, perhaps even risk-free approach, with members of his Bristol City squad who have been carrying knocks, niggles or minor injuries. The Robins boss explained to BBC Radio Bristol last week that neither Jed Wallace nor Yu Hirakawa were likely to feature against Stockport County - and, it turns out, Newport County - having checked back into the High Performance Centre later than the majority of the first-team squad. 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. Emil Riis is another who has not played a part in either of the friendlies played so far. While it hasn't been confirmed that the Dane is injured, some eagle-eyed fans spotted the Dane in what appeared to be the treatment room in the episode of 'Robins Uncut' documenting Lorent Tolaj's first day. Whether or not any of Wallace, Hirakawa, Riis or Lisav Eissat - who, as we mentioned, was forced off early on against Stockport after a head injury - feature at Swindon Town will offer some insight into their condition. Judging by Skubala's comments so far, they won't be risked if there's any doubt over their ability to come through unscathed. Of course, with one eye on the start of the season, which is now less than two weeks away, you wonder if anyone who misses the trip to The County Ground will be fit in time to feature against Walsall. If they are, will they feel sufficiently prepared if they are to only manage two friendly appearances over the course of pre-season? Perhaps I'm being slightly pessimistic with that suggestion. After all, those yet to feature in friendlies have been involved in training sessions, with the decision taken to protect them from any longer-term issues. After the contest, Bristol Live will likely be able to get the latest injury update from Skubala or a member of his staff ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Newcastle United. Hopefully, that will put any uneasy minds at rest.