Liam Manning shares Ross McCrorie update as he sets out Bristol City's international break plan

Liam Manning has confirmed Ross McCrorie is set to take part in some of Bristol City's training this week, with the hope of being involved fully in the run-up to the Robins' clash with Burnley after the March international break.

The former Aberdeen man hasn't featured for the Reds since their 1-1 draw with Severnside rivals Cardiff City in February. Having started at right-wing back in South Wales, the 26-year-old limped off the field early in the second half with what Manning later confirmed to be a hamstring injury.

In his absence, Mark Sykes and George Tanner have combined on the right flank but with the latter now set for a spell on the sidelines having undergone successful knee surgery last week, the Robins are again rather short of options on the right side of defence. Fortunately, should all go as planned, McCrorie should be back in contention for City's trip to Turf Moor on Saturday, March 29.

"Still on track," Manning told Bristol Live when asked if the Scotland international's recovery was going as planned. "Hopefully, Ross will join some training this week and fully train for the Burnley week."

Following their win 2-1 win over Norwich City last time out, the Robins currently sit seventh in the Championship, level on points with West Brom and the play-off places with just eight games remaining of the regular season. With crucial matches against several of the teams in and around them in the current standings to come between now and the end of the campaign in May, it remains all to play for in the race for the top-six.

On paper, the break has come at a frustrating time for Manning's side. The Reds are unbeaten in their last seven matches, have ended their winless run away from Ashton Gate and appear to be growing in confidence with each passing week. However, with key members of his squad like Luke McNally and Tanner sidelined and having played 24 games in all competitions since the last international break all the way back in November, the City head coach feels his team could benefit from the rest.

"Definitely," Manning replied when asked if the break had come at the right time. "Huge credit to the staff as well. They've worked incredibly hard behind the scenes. When you've got a week like this week to turn around, you've got people watching four games on the opposition, coding it, analysing it and putting bits together, it’s a huge effort from everybody.

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"The kitchen staff are in to make sure that everybody gets everything they need nutritionally. It's a massive operation behind the scenes so tonight, the staff deserve a huge amount of credit because they've really worked hard over the last few weeks.

"I’ll be spending time with my family," Manning continued when asked about his plans for the break. "We're staying in the UK. We're going to a game tomorrow [Saturday], actually.

"They [the players] have got some time off now and we're back in the middle of the week to go and work."

The only senior members of Manning's squad who are set to be in action over the break are Sinclair Armstrong, Jason Knight, Mark Sykes and George Earthy. The West Ham loanee will join up with the England Elite League Squad while the Ireland trio will link up with Heimir Hallgrimsson's side for two Nations League fixtures against Bulgaria. However, Anis Mehmeti has not been called up to the Albania squad this month despite being the Reds' top scorer with 12 Championship goals this season.