Bristol City have been scanning the free agent market ever since forward Benik Afobe ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament not long after signing on loan from Stoke City in August.

Afobe started the season on fire, scoring three goals in five games for the Robins until his freak injury in a training session and ever since, City have looked light on options with the one-dimensional Famara Diedhiou and the inexperienced forwards at Championship level, Antoine Semenyo and Sammie Szmodics, left to partner Andreas Weimann.

City were in talks with forward Gary Hooper until talks broke down, but with City limited for options up front, here are three reasons why City should revive their interest in the Englishman...

Desperate for a striker

City need a fourth striker to help take the pressure off of Weimann and Diedhiou and if one of the two were to pick up an injury or be suspended, then City would have to turn to the inexperienced Szmodics and Semenyo to fill any void.

Afobe's early season form has left a big gap in the City squad for another forward to come in and with the transfer window having been shut for over a month now, a free agent is the only option City have unless they move for a striker when the January transfer window opens.

Championship experience

Hooper has past experience in England's second tier, and he'll have the know-how to try and get the goals for City that they need to push for promotion this season.

Hooper is now 31 years of age and has plied his trade in the Championship for years, having represented Southend United, Scunthorpe United, Norwich City and Sheffield Wednesday up until his Wednesday release in the summer. Still without a club and not yet enough to sneak retirement, Hooper will surely be wanting to find himself another club to play for sharpish.

He's the perfect Championship striker

Hooper is the perfect striker to fit the ball in the Championship.

He's experienced, he's a strong character in the dressing room but isn't a "bad egg" who'll try upsetting it, he is strong so can hold the ball up as he leads the line, he's good in the air, composed when presented with an opportunity in front of goal and he works hard to make him the all-round striker for the Championship.

It's a surprise that no Championship club has snapped Hooper up yet, and he could be the answer to Bristol City's problems.