Birmingham City boss Lee Bowyer gives injury update on George Friend, Jeremie Bela & Gary Gardner
Blues in more injury news shocker
Birmingham City manager Lee Bowyer has provided an injury update on George Friend, Jeremie Bela and Gary Gardner following the 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United on Friday evening.
Both Friend and Bela were absent from the matchday squad with Bowyer confirming post match that they are suffering with injury and illness respectively.
Gardner was part of the team on Friday however has been nursing quite a nasty knock this week, according to the boss.
“Yep, he’s injured,” he said when asked about Friend.
“Calf strain.”
The manager was clearly frustrated as the injury leaves Blues with just four natural defenders available.
And all the problem has done is highlight the annoyance of being unable to add reinforcements to the back-line during January.
Bela was also absent on Friday evening but the positive news there is it wasn’t injury related, Bowyer confirming that the left-midfielder woke up with a sickness bug and therefore was unable to make the match.
Another concern however comes in the form of Gary Gardner.
Bowyer mentioned in his pre-match press conference that he picked up a knock in the 2-2 draw to Derby County and it’s one that has bothered him all week, to the extent where he was struggling to move around.
“Gary Gardner just played with a bad foot, couldn’t walk Monday, couldn’t walk Tuesday,” he added.
“He wasn’t going to start today and then Bela got ill today so.
“I don’t know how Gary will feel after this game but he’s got a problem with his ankle.”
It’s a short recovery week for all of the above as Blues travel to high-flying Bournemouth on Wednesday evening in what could prove another grueling match-up.
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