Major Birmingham City injury update emerges before Middlesbrough showdown

Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney has provided a promising injury update ahead of his first game in charge of Blues, away at Middlesbrough on Saturday. An array of fresh fitness issues were sustained ahead of the October international break but there has been time for those impacted to take steps in their respective recoveries.

As outlined in the Birmingham World injury round-up earlier this week, Ethan Laird, Alfie Chang, Lee Buchanan, George Hall, Tyler Roberts and Keshi Anderson are those who have visited the treatment room recently. Many of these players would be starters if fit, so Rooney has gained quite the selection headache during his opening days in charge. There has been one positive update this week, though, which will delight Bluenoses.

“Ethan Laird is the closest [of those injured] to being back. We’re hoping he’ll be back in some capacity next week,” Rooney unveiled to Blues TV on Thursday. “The other lads are still a few weeks away, so they’re not close yet, but Ethan is the one who could potentially train with us next week,” Rooney said.

Man of the Match in his two first games as a Birmingham player, Laird was seriously impressive at the start of the season but was forced off through injury at Bristol City on August 19. The right-back hasn’t played since and Blues had to sign Cody Drameh as a backup late in the summer transfer window. Drameh has done a brilliant job but Laird’s imminent return will no doubt be a huge boost.

As Rooney alluded to, Buchanan, Hall, Roberts and Anderson are all expected to make their way to fitness in the next few weeks. Chang, however, will take far longer with his significant knee injury. Blues’ new manager will be hoping no fresh problems prop up during his first game in charge.