Birmingham City Boss Gave A Hint On His XI Before Clash With Leyton Orient

Miyoshi, Willumsson, Harris: Our writers disagree on Birmingham City XI for Leyton Orient

Birmingham City are back in the capital this weekend to face Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road. Chris Davies’ side travelled south twice last week to record victories over Charlton Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers and Orient are next up.

The O’s have lost their opening two League One matches to Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic after finishing 11th in the table last season. Blues put down a marker at Wycombe and Davies is targeting another three points on the road.

Due to the sheer size of Blues’ squad and its strength-in-depth, Davies has some selection dilemmas going into the meeting with Orient. Dion Sanderson returns from suspension and could break up Christoph Klarer’s partnership with Krystian Bielik.

The only two confirmed absentees at this stage are Lee Buchanan and Alfie Chang. Here’s how our writers think Blues will line up…

Alex Dicken

There are three dilemmas in my eyes and they all exist in the positions behind centre-forward Alfie May. After two excellent displays against Reading and Charlton, Keshi Anderson was slightly disappointing at Wycombe with Koji Miyoshi more effective off the bench.

Emil Hansson wasn’t at his best on the opposite flank either and Ayumu Yokoyama had an instant impact to set up Luke Harris. Harris’ position as the number 10 would be nailed on if Willum Willumsson hadn’t made such an impact as a substitute.

There is a theory that Miyoshi is better utilised as a substitute away from home, hence why he only started 10 of the club’s 23 away matches in the Championship last term, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Anderson get the nod on the right. Hansson should start again on the left.

It would be harsh to leave Harris out but Willumsson has been signed to play behind May and looked superb off the bench at Adams Park. Blues will want their big money signing from Go Ahead Eagles to find his rhythm.

(4-2-3-1): Peacock-Farrell; Laird, Klarer, Bielik, Cochrane; Paik, Leonard; Anderson, Willumsson, Hansson; May

Brian Dick

Davies faces arguably the most telling selection quandary of his short Blues tenure, whether to bring back last year’s captain Dion Sanderson after he completed his one-match ban for his red card at Charlton Athletic. Sanderson will be hoping to dislodge Christoph Klarer who made his full debut at Wycombe.

On one hand Blues spent heavily on Klarer and it felt only a matter of time before a space in the back four opened up for him to claim. On the other the Austrian had one or two wobbly moments at Adams Park and is clearly not as mobile as Sanderson. However, for all the latter’s excellent pre-season, it is difficult to see him coming straight back into the team – he lost his spot and he’ll have to wait to regain it.

The rest of the back four is a straightforward choice, Ethan Laird, Krystian Bielik and Alex Cochrane. Marc Leonard and Paik Seung-ho continue in the middle and Alfie May up top – leaving the two wings and attacking midfield/N. 10 as the only three remaining decisions.

Even with uncertainty about his future I’d expect Koji Miyoshi to regain his place on the right and Emil Hansson to nip in ahead of Ayumu Yokoyama on the left. I’m genuinely torn between Willum Willumsson and Luke Harris – to say nothing of Keshi Anderson and the unfortunate Tyler Roberts. I’d prefer to see Thor, I suspect we’ll see Harris.

(4-2-3-1): Peacock-Farrell; Laird, Klarer, Bielik, Cochrane; Paik, Leonard; Miyoshi, Harris, Hansson; May