Bristol City have arrived in Spain for a high-stakes pre-season camp with five players set to use the week-long trip to impress new manager Michael Skubala. The Robins, sitting 12th in the Championship with 62 points from 46 games, face Stockport County in their first friendly on July 17 after a 2-0 win over Stoke City on May 2.

Who’s in Spain and why it matters

The full first-team squad plus academy prospects have decamped to Alicante for a week of intense training under the Spanish sun. Leo Pecover, Taine Anderson, Marley Thelwell, Dan Ezendu and Freddie Godden are rookies on the continent, while Elijah Morrison and Jamie Knight-Lebel bring prior tour experience. For fringe players, the camp and the Stockport friendly offer a rare chance to force their way into Skubala’s plans before the season opener.

Lisav Eissat’s first real test

Lisav Eissat, signed from Maccabi Haifa on July 11, has yet to train under Skubala at Ashton Gate. The 21-year-old Romanian international arrives in Spain as the club’s latest outfield addition, and the next seven days will mark his first substantial steps in red and white. Skubala’s coaching team will scrutinise Eissat’s adaptation to English football—his first taste outside Israel—with the Stockport friendly a potential early barometer of his readiness.

Fringe players hunting minutes

Every touring party member faces scrutiny after the managerial switch. The Spain camp and the Stockport fixture provide a clear audition stage for those battling for minutes. With Bristol City’s recent form sitting at two wins and two losses from the last five, Skubala’s squad needs fresh legs to push for a late-season push toward the top half.

What’s next for the Robins

After the Stockport friendly, Bristol City return to England to finalise preparations for the Championship curtain-raiser. The Spain camp is designed to tighten fitness and cohesion before league action resumes, with Skubala’s side 33 points adrift of Coventry in the title race but still chasing a top-half finish. The Robins kick off their league campaign with a two-game winning streak, and every impression in Spain counts.