Bristol City striker Sam Bell deserves regular first-team football, following an in-form start for the Robins’ Under-21 side this season.
The one area of the pitch where City aren’t shy of quality is in attack, with Andi Weimann, Antoine Semenyo, Nahki Wells and Tommy Conway all at the disposal of Nigel Pearson.
The front four started the Championship campaign in fine form, but their decrease in output has correlated with the Robins’ slip down the table in recent weeks and there is a need for some fresh blood up front.
Weimann began the season with six goal contributions in five matches but has since added just three to that tally in his previous 17 in all competitions.
Semenyo hasn’t scored in 12 games and Conway’s form has been in and out, which is understandable for a 20-year-old in his first season in England’s second tier.
The trio’s recent struggles in front of goal could provide the perfect opening for young talent Bell, who has been a revelation for the Robins’ U-21 side this season.
City’s youngsters sit top of the second division in the Professional Development Under-23 League, four points ahead of Millwall.
The 20-year-old is the team’s top scorer this term, with 12 goals in all competitions, including six goals in his last four matches.
In terms of playing style and what he offers, Bell’s instinct in front of goal and ability to be in the right place at the right time is something that City perhaps lack at the moment.
While his outright pace might not match that of Semenyo’s and Conway’s, his precise finishing and ability to link up play could bring a new dimension to the Robins frontline if nurtured correctly.
Bell’s standout performances have earned him a few cameo first-team appearances from Pearson of late, coming on as a substitute against Swansea City, Middlesbrough and Coventry City this season.
His first team minutes, though, total just 37, and for the Cider Army to see Bell reach his potential, the youngster needs regular action for the senior side.
With Chris Martin seemingly out of the picture, and both Weimann and Wells approaching the end of their careers, now is the ideal time to integrate Bell into the senior set-up.
City haven’t been shy in promoting their talented youngsters in the past, with Alex Scott and Conway reaping the rewards of City’s top academy and pathway through to the first team.
If Pearson and City play their cards right, and Bell can take his performances into senior football, the Championship will have another top talent on its hands.
