City head coach Michael Skubala is pleased with pre-season progress as preparations stepped up a notch with a behind-closed-doors friendly with Huddersfield Town at the Elite Performance Centre on Friday afternoon.
Two separate XIs played 60 minutes each, with James Collins, Freddie Draper and Reeco Hackett all finding the net.
The Terriers ultimately ran out 5-3 winners, but Skubala was keen to stress the importance of getting some much-needed minutes into the group, without sustaining any injuries.
Skubala said: “The game had everything you’d want in pre-season, with some good goals and good passages of play, but there were also some things we want to sharpen up on.
“We’re trying a few things out at the minute, but the most important thing is that we got 60 minutes into two separate groups. It was a really good exercise for us.
“To get both groups through the game with no injuries was really important for us.”
Skubala revealed that both Oisin Gallagher and MJ Kamson-Kamara are set for a spell on the sidelines, but it’s positive news for Jovon Makama and Ben House, who both missed Friday's match as a precaution.
Both House and Makama will be making the trip to City’s week-long pre-season training camp in Portugal.
He added: “Oisin (Gallagher) came in looking really good, so it’s disappointing for him and us for him to be out.
“He has done his metatarsal, which is really unlucky and will keep him out for a bit of time, he’s not played in any of the pre-season games because of that.
“MJ Kamson-Kamara is also a long-term injury, so we’ve lost a couple.
“Ben House and Jovon Makama weren’t involved today, but that is only as a precaution.
“They are both fine and will be joining us in Portugal, we just didn’t want to take any risks with them today.”
“We’re looking forward to getting out to Portugal for a change of environment for the lads.
“They’ll continue to work hard and we’ve got another good friendly out there, everybody is looking forward to it.”
