Marley Watkins has been unfortunate since signing for Bristol City in the summer of 2018 and it appears his luck hasn't improved since joining Aberdeen on loan.

The 30-year-old forward managed just 27 appearances across his first two seasons at Ashton Gate, a period hampered by injury issues and lack of opportunity.

Seemingly deemed excess requirements by new head coach Dean Holden, Watkins moved north of the border to join Aberdeen on loan back in August.

The Robins loanee seemed to quickly gain the faith of former City boss and current Dons manager Derek McInnes, starting all 12 of Aberdeen's SPFL games and Europa League qualifiers from his arrival until the end of October.

Watkins made a solid start in Scottish football and looked to be quickly regaining confidence, scoring twice and adding two assists in his first nine SPFL games.

But a familiar disaster struck against Celtic in his side's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat at the start of the month as a hamstring injury forced him off late on.

It's since been confirmed that the forward may need surgery and looks set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

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The Aberdeen boss described the injury, which could see him miss up to 10 weeks, as "a real blow".

Watkins' loan at Aberdeen is scheduled to end at the start of January, meaning he may not return before it ends, but McInnes has told BBC Sport that he would try and extend that deal if possible.

He said: "If there was anything that could be done going forward then that is something I would be looking to try and do.

"But he is Bristol City's player and just has to make sure he gets himself sorted and then we can look at anything beyond that."

The issue that he could face is that with the 30-year-old's contract set to expire next summer, City may have been hoping to cash in on the player in the winter transfer window.

The move to Aberdeen that looked to be the opportunity for Watkins to get going again now seems as though it could end in frustrating circumstances.