CHRISTIAN RIBEIRO’S preparations for the new season have been hampered by a back injury.

The former Marling pupil, 20, sustained the injury while on international duty with Wales in May when he made his full international debut in the friendly defeat against Croatia.

City boss Steve Coppell said: “Christian’s injury is giving cause for concern and he could be out for a number of weeks.

“Backs are funny things and you have to be so careful with them. We cannot afford to rush him back and then run the risk of him breaking down again.

“We will monitor his situation closely and give him all the time he needs to make a full recovery. At the moment, it is difficult to say how long that might take.”