JON STEAD makes only his second competitive return to Huddersfield Town on Saturday desperate to boost Bristol City’s stuttering season.

The illness-hit Ashton Gate side slipped to second-bottom of the Championship after their 2-1 home defeat by Hull in front of the Sky cameras.

It was the fourth defeat running for Derek McInes’s men, who have taken only two points from the last 21 available.

To make matters worse, a string of players have been affected by a sickness bug which has swept through the dressing room.

But the boss insists his squad is stronger than the one that finished fifth-bottom last term and reckons City will overcome their problems to finish in a higher position this time around.

“I firmly believe in this group of players and I believe that, if they keep working hard, there are still plenty of points to be gained,” said the former St Johnstone manager.

“This is a situation we have been in before and, when the chips were down, we came up trumps. I’d like to think we can do it with a bit more style this time and with a bit more to spare.