Former Watford favourite Joel Ekstrand may be one step closer to completing his long road to recovery with Bristol City set to take the Swedish defender on trial.

Ekstrand has been without a club since his release by the Hornets at the end of June, which ended a tough 18 months for the 27-year-old.

He is yet to play a competitive game since damaging a cruciate ligament in a Championship tie with Ipswich in March 2015, but sources close to the player have told the Watford Observer he will get a chance to prove his fitness at Ashton Gate.

The Robins had expressed an interest in his services earlier in the summer while Leeds United also ran the rule over the twice-capped Swede, but the Whites were believed to be deterred over concerns about his injury record.

There had been signs of recovery for the popular defender while still at Watford and he featured in a number Under-21s ties for Harry Kewell's side at the start of this year – but another injury put paid to his chances of playing again in a Hornets shirt.