A new era is beginning at Bristol City, with 11 players released ahead of the summer and Nigel Pearson keen to get the rebuilding process underway. 

Jamie Paterson's departure meant there are now no longer any players at the club that were part of the side that famously beat Manchester United in the Carabao Cup under Lee Johnson.

Such was the disastrous way that it ended, that Robins supporters will likely have been begging for the 2020/21 campaign to end and looking forward to their break from EFL football over the next few months.

It would be a break from the game completely, however, and with the European Championships set to be played this month, it seems likely that much of the Ashton Gate faithful will be swapping their red shirts for a white one.

City have had some fantastic English players over the years and they're our focus today.

In fact, we've outlined the top 10 best English players to have played for the club over the past 20 years...

One of few players on this list to earn an England cap, Tammy Abraham's time at Ashton Gate may have only been limited to one season but what a season it was.

The striker joined the Robins on loan from Chelsea for the 2016/17 season as an 18-year-old and tore up the Championship – forming a special bond with the supporters in the process.

Abraham proved lethal in front of goal, scoring 26 times for City before he returned to Stamford Bridge at the end of his loan deal.

A true talent and a player that will always be remembered fondly in Bs3.

That Josh Brownhill has taken to Premier League football like a duck to water is a credit to his own talent and to his development at City.

The midfielder was signed from Preston for a nominal fee but developed into a fantastic all-action midfielder and club captain.

Brownhill was seemingly ever-present in the Robins side during Lee Johnson's tenure – making more than 150 appearances – but the club ultimately cashed in and sold him to Burnley in January 2020.

He's since become an integral part of the Clarets side and is deserving of a place on this list.

Signing Leroy Lita after he was released by Chelsea proved a masterstroke from the Robins, made even better by the fact that they beat Bristol Rovers to his signature.

Lita was born in Kinshasa but became part of the England set-up, scoring a fair few goals for the U21s.

The young forward was properly given a chance once Brian Tinnion became manager and certainly repaid the faith.

Lita's dynamism made him impossible to handle for opposition sides, while his quality in front of goals saw him bag 27 goals in the 2005/06 season.

A move to Reading would follow but though his time with City was short, my god was it exciting.

In at number seven is Joe Bryan, a product of the club's academy system that was a mainstay in the first XI for years before securing a Premier League move.

He announced himself by slamming home a winner against rivals Bristol Rovers at Ashton Gate but some fans may remember him for the stunners he scored during the Carabao Cup run.

As well as being solid defensively, Bryan never failed to cause problems for opposition players with his flying runs down the left flank.

The 27-year-old notched up 230 appearances for the Robins before his exit, playing a key role in the League One and EFL Trophy double-winning campaign before helping to City to establish themselves in the Championship.

Another player that City made a major profit on, Adam Webster was simply sensational during his single season at Ashton Gate.

The central defender would likely be battling for a place at the very top of this list had he stayed in Bs3 longer but as it is he'll have to settle for seventh.

Solid defensively, commanding in the backline, and confident in possession, the 26-year-old earned the name 'Webdini' in no small part for his marauding runs forward.

Webster produced arguably the finest single-season by a Robins defender in the modern era in 2018/19 but unfortunately, it was that quality that saw him leave the club the following summer.

Moving from one central defender to another, while Liam Fontaine may never have reached the heights of Webster, he features above him based upon his service to the club.

Fontaine joined from Fulham in January 2006 and would spend eight years as a Robin before departing to join Scottish club Hibs.

The central defender notched up 286 appearances for the South West club and was a key performer in the Robins' promotion in 2006/07 and run to the play-off final the following season.

Perhaps a controversial choice this high up on the list, not least because he now plays for Cardiff City, but Aden Flint's contributions in both boxes have earned him a place above the likes of Fontaine and Webster.

A physical and powerful defender, Flint joined City from Swindon Town in 2013 and quickly became an integral cog in the side.

The towering centre-back barely missed a game during his five seasons at Ashton Gate, proving solid defensively and a ridiculous threat in the opposition box.

In all, he bagged 38 goals and 11 assists in 246 appearances for the Robins, with the 2014/15 League One and EFL Trophy double-winning campaign seeing him score 15 times – including a hat-trick.

With three appearances shy of 300, there are few players over the past 20 years that have been better servants to the South West club.

Born in Yate, Skuse came through the Robins academy system and cut his teeth in senior football under Brian Tinnion.

Under Gary Johnson, he was ever-present in the side that won promotion in 2006/07 and a presence for the play-off run the following season.

He remained a regular fixture until his move to 2013, the summer after City's relegation to League One.

A gritty central midfielder with great distribution, Skuse's place high up this list is beyond doubt.

It was heartbreaking that Korey Smith left City last summer without a chance to say goodbye to the Ashton Gate faithful.

With his goal against Manchester United, Smith wrote his name into club folklore and provided one of the greatest moments in the Robins' modern history.

Beyond that, however, the midfielder was Mr. Consistent and even before he donned the captain's armband, a leader.

Here, there, and every-*******-where, Smith never failed to give absolutely everything for the shirt and that meant he spent a significant chunk of his City career injured.

Even so, he was a key figure during the 2014/15 double-winning campaign, in helping the club to establish itself in the Championship and in that Carabao Cup run.

There could never really be anyone else at number one, could there?

He may have played once for the Scotland U21s in 1998 but Louis Carey is Bristol-born certainly gave his all for the Bs3 club, having come through the academy.

No player in City history has made more appearances than the central defender's 646 and he was a key part of their success in the early 2000s – helping them win the EFL Trophy, get promoted to the Championship and reach the Premier League play-offs.

A fantastic defender and a real leader at the back, Carey is clear of any of the other Englishman on this list.