West Ham loanee George Earthy was not included in Bristol City's matchday squad for their come-from-behind draw with Wrexham
07:00, 18 Feb 2026
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Bristol City signed George Earthy on loan from West Ham United in January(Image: Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
George Earthy "has to be a little bit patient," Gerhard Struber has admitted whilst explaining his decision not to select the attacking midfielder as part of his Bristol City squad to face Wrexham.
The West Ham loanee was left out of City's matchday squad on Tuesday evening as the Robins drew 2-2 with Wrexham. Second-half goals from Sinclair Armstrong and Max Bird were enough to see Struber's side twice come from behind to move back to within a point of the play-off places.
Having watched from the bench as Ollie Rathbone handed the Red Dragons the lead, Armstrong fired City level two minutes after the interval. Joe Williams' own-goal threatened to make the Irishman's strike a consolation until Bird volleyed home off the underside of the bar in the 89th minute.
READ MORE: Gerhard Struber lifts lid on half-time message that sparked Bristol City shift in Wrexham draw
OPINION
Daniel Carter
Bird's strike came on what was his first City appearance in five months following an injury absence. The 25-year-old returned to the matchday squad at the expense of Earthy, who was fit and available for selection, but left out of the team to face Phil Parkinson's side.
"I feel also for him sad," Struber told Bristol Live when asked about the attacking midfielder's absence on Tuesday. "Especially also, he is a big, ambitious boy and he creates also in the training good performances and in the games also.
"But in the end, I have a really big competition at the moment in some positions, and then it's sometimes also a topic of the competition that someone is not in the roster."
Having spent the entirety of last season on loan at Ashton Gate from the London Stadium, when he played an important role as the Robins secured a play-off finish, Earthy returned to the West Country - until the end of the campaign - during the January transfer window.
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The 21-year-old was immediately thrust straight into the Reds' first team as he appeared off the bench against each of Watford, Oxford United and Ipswich Town. Earthy was then handed his first start under Struber in the Robins' 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday - a game played the day after Anis Mehmeti's move to Portman Road was confirmed.
Since last month's victory over the Owls, however, Earthy has been an unused substitute against each of Derby County and Hull City, and has now found himself out of the matchday squad in its entirety against Wrexham. Such reduced involvement has followed the arrival of Tomi Horvat and Delano Burgzorg in south Bristol.
Naturally, the late flurry of incoming transfer business completed at Ashton Gate, as well as the return of key players such as Bird, Jason Knight and Williams from injury, has increased the competition for places in Struber's roster.
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Although Earthy may, therefore, need to bide his time before stepping back into the fold, he has the complete backing of his head coach, who feels his displays in red and white so far warrant greater involvement.
Asked if there was anything the Hammers loanee needed to do differently to win back his place, Struber replied, "I think, of course, right now, he has to be a little bit patient, but also, he should work further on a good level.
"He has today an individual training [session] with my coaching team, and he was great. His personality, his character, is top, and I like George Earthy.
"The time for game time will also come for him, and he deserves it."
READ MORE: Bristol City 2-2 Wrexham reaction: Max Bird volleys Robins level after Joe Williams own-goalREAD MORE: Bristol City twice fight back to earn valuable Wrexham point
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