BREAKING: A Blow For Birmingham City As Blues Coach Released List Injury Players

Chris Davies cut half of the youngsters from his Birmingham City squad for Wednesday’s victory over Solihull Moors.

Some were unfortunate, such as 18-year-old striker Frank Tattum, who suffered an injury during a warm up out in Austria, whereas others were simply dropped back down to the under-21s. Now that new players are coming and the injuries to Krystian Bielik, Tyler Roberts and Siriki Dembele have cleared up, Davies doesn’t need such a large group of teenagers.

He has kept some around the first team for extended opportunities to impress. Romelle Donovan has moved past the trial stage having been trusted to start against Moors and publicly praised by Davies afterwards.

“With all the attacking players I try and enforce that it’s the work without the ball, we call it counter-pressing, when you lose it you react, and he does that really well,” Davies said of Donovan. “I’ve been really pleased with the tenacity he has in his game. He’s not a luxury player like some talented young players are. He’s not that at all. He wants to work, he will work and he’s tenacious. He obviously has great skill with the ball.

“There’s plenty of development still with him, in terms of the decisions he’s making on the ball, but he’s had a really good two-and-a-half weeks.”

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There are four others getting opportunities to impress. Brandon Khela is in the mix, and reports from training suggest Davies has taken a shine to the 19-year-old. Khela is versatile, as he proved by deputising at centre-back against Moors, strong technically, physically and has an excellent attitude.

An alternative midfield option is under-21s captain Josh Home. He is a tidy operator in the middle of the park and also possesses a good frame, which allows him to compete out of possession. Khela and Home are waiting in line behind Paik Seung-ho and Jordan James, who both have uncertain futures with Blues.

Now to the defence, where the shortage has opened up the door to right-back Byron Pendleton and central defender Tommy Fogarty. Pendleton is a tenacious full-back with bags of energy to get up and down. The fact he was awarded his first professional deal when he was just 17 shows how highly Blues rate him.

Fogarty benefitted from a loan spell with National League side Ebbsfleet and has returned for pre-season looking fitter and stronger than ever. The 20-year-old now has the physique of a League One centre-back. He came on at half-time against Moors and impressed in what became a makeshift back four by the end of the match.