EFL Weekend Briefing: Team news, injuries and suspensions

Leeds United limited for opener with Bristol City

Leeds were defeated in the Sky Bet Championship playoffs last season and will be hoping to secure automatic promotion under Marcelo Bielsa in 2019-20.

They have a challenging opening encounter to navigate with Bristol City, though, and their cause is not helped by key absences on the first weekend of the season.

Gaetano Berardi will miss out through suspension while Luke Ayling is sidelined with an ankle injury which ruled him out of the club's pre-season tour of Australia.

Last term's top scorer Kemar Roofe sustained a similar knock in a friendly against Western Sydney Warriors while fellow forward Tyler Roberts has not been in action this summer and is also reportedly on the treatment table.

Ryan Shawcross ruled out of Stoke City clash with horror injury

Losing a key player to a significant injury during pre-season is a nightmare scenario for a manager and that is exactly the situation facing Stoke boss Nathan Jones going into the opening weekend.

Defender Ryan Shawcross suffered a broken fibula in a pre-season friendly with Leicester last Saturday and, after various surgical procedures, it has been revealed he will be on the sidelines for approximately four months.

The severity of the injury suggests centre-back Bruno Martins Indi could now stay put at the Potters, who will otherwise be too short of options at the back.

Summer signing Moses Ogbu expected to be involved for Grimsby Town

While Michael Jolley revealed after Grimsby's pre-season encounter with Peterborough that loanee Liam Gibson would miss their first league fixture, there could be involvement from new addition Moses Ogbu.

Ogbu should be joined by defender Ludvig Ohman, despite his absence from the game with Posh, while Charles Vernam (ankle) may also feature.

Jason Shackell suspension hampers Lincoln City

Lincoln will need to adjust after moving up from Sky Bet League Two to League One without key defender Jason Shackell, who will miss their opening three league assignments through suspension.

Shackell was charged with misconduct for confronting official Seb Stockbridge after picking up a red card in a game against Carlisle last season.

That leaves the Imps light in defence as centre-back Michael Bostwick continues his recovery from injury.

His involvement in their season-opener against Accrington Stanley is in doubt although he got 60 minutes of game time against Nottingham Forest in their last pre-season friendly.

Plymouth Argyle handed boost before Crewe Alexandra clash

Former Bury player Will Aimson has returned to full training for Plymouth as they prepare for their season back in Sky Bet League Two, having missed their pre-season action as a result of a pelvic concern.

There are key returns at the other end of the pitch for the Pilgrims as well with striking duo Ryan Taylor and Dom Telford returning to fitness in time for the season opener.

Plymouth boss Ryan Lowe revealed Aimson has been working hard on his fitness, saying: "He has been doing double sessions every day - triple sessions at times - to get back to where he needs to get to, but different types of training."

Aside from the slight uncertainty over whether or not Aimson will land a starting spot, Lowe said his side are otherwise "100 per cent".

Mark Cullen hopeful of featuring for Port Vale

Injuries have stalled the progress of striker Mark Cullen in recent seasons but he is fully fit and hopeful of being included in John Askey's starting 11 for Port Vale's opening game of the season away to Colchester.

Cullen has shown flashes of potential during stints with Blackpool and Luton, who he helped to promotion from the National League in 2013-14.

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