Bristol City defender has 'no clue what the future holds' beyond loan spell (2025)

Rob Atkinson left Bristol City during the January transfer window to join Portsmouth on loan for the remainder of the season

Bristol City defender Rob Atkinson has confessed he has "absolutely no clue what the future holds" beyond the end of his loan spell with Portsmouth having marked his return from injury with a brace in Pompey's draw with Derby County.

Atkinson was one of three senior players to depart Ashton Gate on loan during the January transfer window alongside Fally Mayulu and Kal Naismith, who joined Sturm Graz and Luton Town respectively. The 26-year-old hadn't made a competitive appearance for the Robins in almost two years having suffered an ACL injury early in 2023 which was followed by multiple hamstring issues.

While he was a frequent fixture on the City bench in the run-up to the January transfer window, the Reds allowed him to head to Fratton Park on a temporary basis to build his match fitness and confidence.

The former Oxford United defender started brilliantly in Portsmouth colours before suffering a calf injury in Pompey's win over QPR in February. That issue saw him miss almost two months of action but the centre-back marked his return with two goals, and an own-goal, in John Mousinho's side's 2-2 draw with Derby on Saturday afternoon.

Although Atkinson's injury has limited his involvement for portions of his spell on the south coast, the City loanee is now focused on helping his loan club avoid relegation back to League One and is hoping to help propel them up the Championship table over the final four games.

"When I joined, I really wanted to make an impact and get this team up the league," the 26-year-old told The Portsmouth News. "Obviously the injury has not helped that goal, but, now I’m back, I’m hoping to stay fit for the rest of the season and really cement Portsmouth Football Club’s position in the Championship so they can go again.

"I truly believe that next season, with the right recruitment, you’ve got the nucleus here to really kick on. Who knows what can happen? It’s a special club. I’m excited to see how it goes.

"The silver lining with my injury, and I know it’s weird saying that, is it’s completely unrelated to my hamstring and knee issues of the past," he continued. "I don’t think it was particularly avoidable, it just happened through fatigue.

"I’m just happy to be back and, hopefully, I can help the team get some more points in these last few games."

Portsmouth, who are without a win in their last three league games, currently sit 19th in the Championship, just four points clear of Cardiff City and the relegation zone with four games remaining of the season. While a run of just two wins in eight matches has dragged Mousinho's side back into the battle at the foot of the table, their results have been considerably better with Atkinson, than they have been without the Reds loanee since he arrived in the winter.

The defender's loan move to Fratton Park is understood not to include an option to make his stay on the south coast permanent, with his contract at Ashton Gate due to expire at the end of the 2025/26 season. While several Portsmouth fans have taken to social media to urge Pompey to tie Atkinson down permanently, not even the 26-year-old knows where he'll be plying his trade come the start of next season.

"I have absolutely no clue what the future holds, honestly," admitted the Reds loanee. "Anything can happen, I can be anywhere.

"I owe this club a lot and this club owes me absolutely nothing. It has been an absolute pleasure to be here."

At this stage, City don't know what division they will be playing their football in next season with Manning's Reds currently in the Championship play-off mix. However, with Zak Vyner and Rob Dickie the only fit, senior centre-backs in the Robins squad currently, following Luke McNally's season-ending injury, there is an expectation that defensive reinforcements will be on the agenda this summer.

Only time will tell whether Atkinson and fellow returning loanee Jamie Knight-Lebel are part of Manning's first-team plans heading into next term.