Manager Steve Cotterill met with the press ahead of this weekend's trip to face Ipswich Town.
We travel to Portman Road to take on the high-flying Tractor Boys on Saturday as we look to continue our fine start to 2023 which has seen us win eight of our last 12 games.
Speaking to the assembled media, Steve gave fitness updates on Christian Saydee, Killian Phillips and Tom Bayliss - with Christian (hamstring) and Killian (concussion) missing last weekend's win over Morecambe while Tom came off in that game with an ankle issue.
And the boss also had praise for striker Rob Street who has worked tirelessly since joining the club on loan from Crystal Palace and who scored against the Shrimps last weekend.
ON CHRISTIAN SAYDEE:
"It (his hamstring) is better than it was. It will be a late call on that one.
"He has done very well for us since he has come in. We have been really, really, pleased with his progress.
"His professionalism - I think that’s been very good. We’ve been really impressed with him, he is a good lad and fits into the dressing room which is really important.
"It’s like he’s been a permanent player for us, a permanent signing. He has come in – as have all the loan signings – he's come in Christian and been very, very, good.
ON WHY THE LOAN SIGNINGS HAVE SETTLED SO WELL:
"If you can’t get on with this group then you’re not going to get on with anyone.
"They are a really welcoming group. And the boys have bought into it big time. That’s been really important.
"The loan signings that have come in have been great. But the existing boys that were already here have been great in welcoming them.
"We have been really pleased with that."
ON KILLIAN PHILLIPS:
"It’s concussion protocols – that is what we are going through. That’s basically where that one is.
There is a timescale for his return but I’m not going to tell you that, sorry!"
ON TOM BAYLISS:
"That one will be one we know more on later in the week. That one is one we need to look at."
ON ROB STREET:
"He has worked really hard. He is another great lad. He has come in, he’s unselfish, he does a lot of running and a lot of hard work for other people.
"He is another young boy that has come in and the group has bought into him and he has bought into the group.
"I’m delighted for him that he scored last week. We are really pleased with Robert as well."
ON IPSWICH BEING A DIFFERENT TEST TO MORECAMBE:
"I suppose they are because of the league table but I don't want to discredit Morecambe with that.
"They had 11 players, we had 11 players and as far as I know, unless any rules are going to change, Ipswich will have 11 players on Saturday.
"I think Ipswich are up there because they've proved [themselves] over the course of the season.
"They've got an incredibly strong squad. The last time we played them we were on the back of a really tough game away at Wycombe, then we had Derby mid-week and then we had them on Saturday. I think they came into that game having made five changes as well.
"We haven't been able to make five changes all season, let alone from a Tuesday to a Saturday. They've got an incredibly strong squad, we know that, but it's a game we're looking forward to.
"Our boys want to play all the time. They want to play. I have had dressing rooms before and you think to yourself ‘why would you want to be a footballer?’
"They want to get out on the pitch these boys. They look forward to playing the games and why wouldn’t you?
"It's a fantastic sport. Why wouldn’t you want to get out there and play – it's the best times of your life."
