Bristol City's Nathan Baker continues to be evaluated amid 'really serious' head injury concerns Bristol City defender Nathan Baker remains sidelined after a second concussion this season please log in to view this image Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson says Nathan Baker is no closer to a return and is still undergoing tests amid "really serious" head injury concerns. The defender was hospitalised for the second time this season with a concussion sustained in a clash with Chris Basham at Sheffield United in late November and has not trained since. The 30-year-old also required observation in hospital after a similar incident against West Bromwich Albion in October. Pearson has declined to put a timeframe on possible return date for the former Aston Villa centre-half, admitting City are proceeding with caution and putting the player's health first. "We’re still in a situation where he is still undergoing tests. It’s been a really serious one and it’s his second really bad one this season alone," Pearson told Bristol Live. "We have to be very careful. The primary concern for us is his well-being, it’s not about a return date, and hence we have to have contingency plans." One of those backup plans is Ryley Towler, with Pearson putting an early end to the academy graduate's loan spell at Grimsby Town and summoning him back to the Robins High Performance Centre this week. Towler, who made 14 appearances for the Mariners, is likely to be in the squad for the Boxing Day trip to Luton Town, with Callum O'Dowda and Andy King also in contention after minor injuries. "Fortunately for us, Ryley’s come back and he gives us some cover there," Pearson said. please log in to view this image "He’s going to be needed over the rest of the season. He’s done well. I think the loan move was good for all parties, really. "I think Ryley has had the opportunity to play quite a few games and to get that first-team exposure is beneficial.He seems in really good spirits, actually. "I think getting experience in first-team football is very important, and for Ryley last year, yeah he made four or five appearances in a side that was struggling, which is not always easy. "What I’ve noticed already is he is certainly a bit more vocal than before he went. He’s a really good lad as well. "He’s got a lot of humility about him and considering two years ago he was a midfield player, for him to make the adaptation into a centre-back has been pretty good for him really, so I like him." Like Baker and regular starter Rob Atkinson, Towler is a left-sided defender and will compete for minutes on that side of the back three. Robbie Cundy is another centre-back who could come into contention, but City are handling his return from a significant knee injury carefully. Signed from Bath City, Cundy is yet to make a competitive first-team appearance for the Robins. "Robbie continues to train with the first team and he’s making progress, but it’s a big ask for somebody who’s been out for the length of time he’s been out to have a meaningful impact at the moment," Pearson said of the defender, who impressed on loan at Gillingham last season. "So as far as I’m concerned with players like him, we’ve got to make sure his route back into playing is a sensible one because of the nature of the injury and the length of time he’s been out. "He’s such a big unit himself that we have to make sure we manage the load with somebody like him." https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport.../bristol-citys-nathan-baker-continues-6399608
Maybe it's time for him to retire on medical grounds as he does seem to be getting continuing problems, I wonder if we could make a justifiable claim to get some payback from insurance cmpanies, a bit cold hearted I know but it is a multi million pound business and these courses have got to be followed.
I did read somewhere how that insurance worked .. a maximum amount on squad overall ?!! , based on "value" of player! 1 club in past lost a player and lost £x? on him as amount was only half or less than they paid for him a year before? Head injuries are probably the worst of all injuries, a soft knock can do more damage than a hard one if in "wrong place" .... eg a softish tackle on the ankle /foot might cause a week or 2 off, but similarly could lead to a year.
I've loved Baker since the day Cotts brought him in on loan. I was surprised at the time as I'd seen him on the box playing for Villa and wondered how we got him to drop down to L1 or had we just been promoted ? For all that I'd be more than happy/relieved to see him retire from football altogether.
Team building has to be done with injury prone players out of the picture. It seems as a general comment that we are more prone to losing our top players than most and it begs me to ask why? We need a Baker type player at full fitness as long as possible to complement our squad and that regrettably has never been the case. As a player I love his attitude and professionalism but I fear his long term career may be in jeopardy and I'm sure we all wish him well in his recovery and future.
