Bristol City centre-back Luke McNally will not return from a long-term knee injury until next season, said head coach Gerhard Struber.

McNally has not played in more than a year since the suffering the anterior cruciate ligament injury on 9 February 2025 in a home defeat to Swansea.

He has suffered setbacks during his recovery which has pushed his return back further, but Struber hopes he will be ready for a full pre-season training this summer.

"We knew what he has and how long this injuries needs to heal and everything is safe there," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We should think safety first with an injury of this level. I think more on the next season with him, we want to do everything that he's soon back but I think with my plan, with the plan with the medical department, he's more a option for the new season."

McNally signed for the Robins in August 2024 from Burnley and started all but three Championship games last season before being ruled out.

Struber has yet to see McNally play but said he has watched clips of him from last season and believes "he has exactly the profile could really works in my football ideal".

He added the 26-year-old is a "really important" and "key player" for the squad.

"We miss him and he is already more than ready to let the rehabilitation programme behind him," Struber added.

"It's really difficult for him but he has a really big support from us, from all departments, also he show he's a really big character and he can deal with good resilience and a really good attitude, this helps him in the end that he is so focussed.

"He made the big steps and he has much more trust in himself, in the stability, the duration that he jump back we have to be patient but very realistic that he is in the new season, in the pre-season with us."