“Laird’s Injury Blow: Blues Battle to Stay Afloat Amidst Growing Injury List”

Birmingham City are sweating on the fitness of Ethan Laird after the right back limped out of Saturday’s 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic.

The 23-year-old, who had his injury woes last season, had started every game so far this campaign but is now a doubt for Tuesday night’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy opener against Walsall.

Laird stayed down after a tackle early in the second half at St Andrew’s – with Blues leading 1-0 before they were pegged back and needed a Scott Wright winner late on – and was replaced by Alfons Sampsted.

The Icelander, on loan from Dutch outfit Twente, is the most obvious replacement if Laird misses any extensive time. Taylor Gardner-Hickman also played in the role for West Brom.

Manager Chris Davies revealed: “Ethan, he got a kick on his ankle, basically a knock on his ankle. I’ve just looked at him in the treatment room with the physio and yeah, it’s a sore one. But again, without knowing the details too much, we don’t know how long he’s out for. We’ll see how he fares tomorrow.”

Blues are already without Keshi Anderson, who picked up a knock in the game with Fulham on Tuesday night with Davies suggesting at Friday’s press conference the winger could miss ‘a few weeks’ and while he didn’t specify the injury he did say it was ‘nothing major’.

Dion Sanderson is also ‘a few weeks’ away having picked up a foot injury before the Wycombe game. Sanderson is currently working with the likes of Lee Buchanan and Alfie Chang with the fitness team.

Buchanan has been dogged by a calf injury through pre-season while Chang is on the comeback trail from a knee ligament injury.