Sport
Chris Davies has confirmed a key Birmingham City player His missing of several weeks with an injury
Blues captain Krystian Bielik is expected to spend a prolonged period on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle issue during the narrow 1-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic.
The former Poland international has been a vital cog in Davies’ system so far this season but Birmingham will have to make do without him for a few fixtures. Not only a huge physical presence and a commanding voice at the back, Bielik has been an excellent ball-player from his central defensive role.
Birmingham didn’t miss Bielik on Tuesday night as they thrashed Shrewsbury Town 4-0 in the EFL Trophy, but the void will likely feel far larger when the tougher League One matches return after the international break.
“He got a bit of a nasty ankle knock at the weekend, so he looks like he will be a few weeks at the very least,” Davies admitted to Birmingham Live after the win at Shrewsbury.
A significant blow, then, but there aren’t many better times for an injury like this than just before an international break. Bielik will certainly miss the clashes with Lincoln City and Bolton Wanderers on October 19 and 22, but there could potentially be scope for a return against Mansfield Town on October 26.
With that admittedly a push, there’s one more opportunity on October 29 against Fulham Under-21s in the EFL Trophy, before yet another international break. If Bielik’s recovery takes that long, then the skipper would come back in for the hosting of Northampton Town on November 9.
