Bristol City transfer coup for 12-goal striker may be bad news for £2.5m signing | OneFootball

Bristol City’s addition of Emil Riis could severely impact Sinclair Armstrong’s game time at Ashton Gate.

Bristol City will be hopeful that they can go one step further and clinch promotion to the Premier League next season.

The Robins had a sensational last campaign by reaching the play-offs under Liam Manning, but now go into the upcoming campaign with Gerhard Struber, after the former made the switch to Norwich City.

The playing squad will be trying to get used to the tweaks of tactics and playing style that the former Barnsley boss wants to implement, while the club have been active in the summer transfer window already to bring in the type of players the Austrian wants to work with.

One player who has arrived through the door at Ashton Gate is experienced Championship forward Emil Riis, linking up on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Preston North End.

While the majority of the Robins faithful will be delighted to see the forward department strengthened, the same can’t be said for Sinclair Armstrong, who may feel his first-team chances will be on the decline given Riis’s second tier pedigree.

Sinclair Armstrong’s poor 2024-25 season for Bristol City

After racking up more than 60 appearances for QPR, Bristol City would have been delighted to get hold of Armstrong for a reported fee of £2.5m, with the frontman showing dynamic ability and pace, while at an age that allows him plenty of time to develop and grow.

Despite not being a prolific goalscorer in West London, there was hope that last season would be Armstrong’s breakthrough term, but it hasn’t been the case at all.

In his opening season for the club, Armstrong has only struck three goals, unable to find the back of the net since last November, while his other two strikes came in victories over Oxford United and Millwall at the beginning of the campaign.

His finishing has certainly come under scrutiny, with Armstrong having 41 shots across the term, resulting in just three goals, while his shot on target percentage stands at a measly 41%.

It’s disappointing considering the fact that Armstrong has had a lot of chances leading the line to make an impact, starting 17 times under Liam Manning throughout last season.

Emil Riis addition could hinder any Sinclair Armstrong progression at Bristol City

While experienced frontman Nahki Wells recently departed the club, another one in the form of Emil Riis has entered the building.

Riis has developed into an established and reliable Championship forward, amassing 172 appearances in the second tier and scoring 41 times at Deepdale, with the Dane recording his second best scoring term in Lancashire last season by netting 12 times.

There won’t be a contest for who secures the starting spot at the beginning of the season, with Bristol City needing a regular source of goals at the top end of the pitch if they want any chance of fighting towards the upper ends of the table.

Meanwhile, the likes of Fally Mayulu and Ephraim Yaboah return from their loan spells with Sturm Graz and Dunfermline Athletic respectively. Harry Cornick is also another forward option, leaving the Robins well-stocked in that area for the 46-game term.

It’s difficult to see Armstrong pushing for a starting place when his goalscoring record and confidence isn’t there, and it could be another tough term coming up for him.

While Armstrong undoubtedly will want to fight for his place, you have to think that a loan spell away could be what is best to help him discover a clinical edge in front of goal and prove he has what it takes to be an asset towards the top levels of the English game, as opportunities will start to get few and far between if he stays.