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Bristol City could receive a handy reinforcement come the sharp end of the Championship season.

Bristol Live understands that key forward Benik Afobe is hoping to return to the Robins' squad in March 2020. If successful, that could make him available for the club's last six games of the season across April and May.

Afobe has undergone surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament - an injury explained as an "ACL and more" by head coach Lee Johnson in the aftermath of the incident on September 18.

The serious injury was believed to rule out Afobe for nine months originally, but after a receiving a positive debrief this month by surgeons who conducted the operation there is hope that the recovery time will be considerably less.

Afobe has privately told friends he is targeting a March return to action which, while ambitious, will come as a major boost to the Robins promotion hopes.

Afobe, who arrived on transfer deadline day on a season-long loan from Stoke City, scored three goals in five starts before his injury and almost single-handedly transformed the Robins attack with his ability and willingness to play on the shoulder and make runs in behind defences.

The 26-year-old has remained with City since his injury and has attended home games and been kept within the first-team environment by Johnson.

Afobe has been a constant in the dressing room, taken his seat at Ashton Gate close to the dugouts and was pictured celebrating with Kasey Palmer following the 2-1 win over Charlton last week.

Johnson had made Afobe part of his "leadership group" among his first-team squad and although he's not been able to make an impact on the field, his character and personality is still an asset for the club.

Bristol Live further understands that Afobe wants to complete his rehab at Failand and in Bristol, enhancing the probability both he and City believe he still has a part to play this campaign.

Nothing is definite, and Afobe faces a gruelling recovery programme on what is the second injury of this nature but , ultimately, if there was no chance of him returning before the final game of the regular season on May 2, Afobe would already be back at Stoke.

Afobe can take inspiration from Korey Smith: the dynamic midfielder was originally said to be out until January with Lee Johnson adding that, "he would be happy to see Smith back by December".

However, the central midfielder is now in full training and could be on the bench for the Robins soon.

"He’s fully trained the last couple of days. He's slowly integrating back into training. He's done boxes and warm-ups and passing drills the last couple of days and then fully trained the last day or so.

"It's great to have his influence back on the training pitch," said assistant head coach Jamie McAllister this week on Smith's potential return.

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