Nigel Pearson believes that Bristol City’s new signings can help the team compete for promotion next season.

The Robins’ boss believes the new additions have the mental attributes and quality to push the team higher up the Championship table in the upcoming campaign.

The club has moved quickly in the transfer market to add the likes of Mark Sykes, Kal Naismith and Kane Wilson to the team so far this summer.

With the players set to return for pre-season training next week, Pearson has confirmed his pleasure at the activity his recruitment team have completed so far in terms of both incomings and outgoings.

Callum O’Dowda and Kasey Palmer have departed the club this summer.

While Pearson remained coy over the future plans of the team, it is understood by Bristol Live that another defensive addition is being sought, with a defensive midfielder also a target.

"The players that have come in recognise that the club has the capabilities to be successful, the infrastructure is very good, we are ambitious but that doesn't guarantee success,” said Pearson, via Robins TV.

"The plan that we've got to move the club forward is one that will take patience, from our fanbase in particular but I think our fan base can see what we're trying to do.

"They've all got different backgrounds but all three of them have had a really good season at their previous clubs. 

“It's just important we strengthen in the right areas and we get the right types of people in as well. It's about having players who are prepared to take on the tough challenge.

"We are not going to set the bar low in terms of expectations this year, we want to be in the promotion race. 

“That's the aim every year regardless of how it pans out. I don't believe in setting low targets, let's try and achieve what everybody wants to do and that's achieve promotion."

City finished 17th in the table last season in what was ultimately a transitional campaign for the team.

Supporters will be hoping to be more competitive over the next 12 months, which Pearson has now claimed will be the aim.

The Verdict

The new signings at City are promising and exciting, which should bring in a new level of optimism at the club.

It was an underwhelming season at Ashton Gate last year, but there was at least an understanding that it was building towards something.

It is now time for Pearson to start delivering on that kind of progress.

If it means coming 11th in the table, that would still be a sign that the team is heading in the right direction, even if that would come someway short of actually earning promotion.