Key difference can help ex-Leeds United man hit the ground running if he completes Bristol City switch: Opinion | OneFootball

For Barry Douglas, the summer once again looks set to be one of change.

Last summer, the left-back completed a loan move to Blackburn Rovers from Leeds United on the final day of the window, having been released by the Elland Road club at the end of the 2020/21 campaign following the expiry of his contract.

Now, it looks as though the coming weeks and months could see the Scot make a swift return to the Championship.

According to recent reports, Bristol City are in talks to complete the signing of Douglas, as they look to build on a hugely disappointing 19th placed finish in the second-tier standings last season.

Given the experience Douglas has, not least with his two Championship title wins with Wolves and Leeds in recent years, the 31-year-old could certainly be a useful addition at Ashton Gate this summer.

It is also worth noting that there would also be one key advantage for the left-back and his prospective new club, that Douglas and Rovers did not quite enjoy during the previous campaign.

Despite his arrival at Ewood Park being greeted with a great deal of expectation, it did take Douglas some time to really hit top form in Lancashire, something that did not help a side going through a considerable amount of rotation to its back four thanks to injuries both at centre back and right-back.

That is something that is unlikely to have been helped by the fact that by the time Douglas’ temporary move to Rovers was confirmed on the final day of the summer transfer window in mid-October, the Scot had started just four league games across the whole of that calendar year.

The lack of recent game time that Douglas had arrived at Ewood Park with is unlikely to have helped when it came to his match sharpness, meaning Rovers never quite got to see the best of him in his early months with the club.

This time around however, Douglas would be arriving at Ashton Gate having made 31 appearances across the course of last season for Tony Mowbray’s side, starting 29 of them.

As a result, you would expect Douglas now, to be sharper, and carrying more momentum now if he does make this move to Bristol City, than he was when he joined Blackburn nine months ago.

Add to that the fact that getting this deal done early, rather than the final day of the window as Rovers did, means that there is also likely to be the chance for the left-back to get up to match fitness with some pre-season friendlies before the competitive action starts in August.

You would imagine therefore, that the combination of a season of competitive action, and a summer’s worth of preparation, means that things are all pointing towards Douglas being ready to make a swift impact in the Championship for Bristol City should he complete a move to the Robins.

Considering the quality that he possesses, you feel that ought to be an exciting prospect for those around Ashton Gate.