City loan for Welsh defender Matthews

Adam Matthews had joined Championship side Bristol City on an emergency loan deal until the end of the season.

The full-back will be hoping the move to Ashton Gate will keep him in the picture with Wales boss Chris Coleman ahead of the Euro 2016 Finals in France.

The 24-year-old had fallen out of favour at Sunderland under Sam Allardyce this season and has opted to join Lee Johnson’s Bristol City as they continue their battle to stay in the Championship.

Bristol City are 20th in the Championship standings, five points above the relegation zone with 11 games remaining.

Johnson feels Matthews is exactly the type of player the club needs in order to maintain their status.

“He’s a quality, young signing who is hungry to play,” Johnson said. “He moved to Sunderland for £2 million and hasn’t got in the team enough, so he’s keen to come here and prove himself.

“People may think ‘Why do we need another right-back?’ It’s a number of things, really. We’re in the market for good players and that’s what Adam is.

“He’s quick with good technique. The risk and reward with any loan is how quickly you can get the player up to speed and get them integrated to the group.”

Matthews moved to the Stadium of Light from Celtic, where he had won four successive Scottish Premier League titles after joining the Glasgow side from Cardiff City.

He has 12 caps for Wales but was not able to add to that tally as Wales secured a place at Euro 2016, ending a 58-year wait for a major tournament appearance. Wales are 2.30 to win their Euro 2016 opener against Slovakia on June 11.