Birmingham City must move heaven and earth to make attacking loanees permanent additions

Birmingham City’s forward play has been reinvigorated by the arrival of a trio of attacking players in January – and the club must do all it can to keep the new faces together next season says Birmingham World’s Liam Moakes

Prior to the permanent signing of Juninho Bacuna and loan additions of Onel Hernandez and Lyle Taylor, Blues had struggled for goals in the Championship this season and only Scott Hogan with ten goals has been any real threat in front of goal.

However, Lee Bowyer’s side have been transformed in attacking areas thanks to the pace, aggression, direct running and clinical finishing provided by the recent recruits.

In just a combined 16 starts between them, they have already contributed seven goals and five assists to help Blues put 16 points between themselves and the relegation zone heading into tomorrow’s visit to Reading.

Victory in Berkshire will surely banish any lingering fears of a nervy end to the campaign and, if Blues are to get three points, few would bet against one, two or all of Bacuna, Hernandez and Taylor inspiring the win.

Spearheaded by the driving midfield runs of Bacuna, who signed permanently from Rangers, the pace, power and trickery of Norwich City loanee Hernandez and lethal finishing of Nottingham Forest loanee Taylor, Blues have looked a different side.

The statistics are stark. Blues have scored 13 goals in their last seven matches having only netted 26 goals in as many league games previously.

Put another way, they are now scoring two goals per game compared to one before the trio’s arrival. That is a huge difference and it is a long time since Birmingham fans were this excited by their side’s attacking prowess.

Cuban Hernandez, 29, is clearly out of favour at Norwich City, where he is out of contract next summer, whilst Taylor – who turns 32 at the end of March – has a deal in the East Midlands which expires at the same time.

Blues could therefore realistically expect to pick up the duo for fees of around the £1m to £1.5m mark.

If the club’s owners Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited are serious about challenging at the right end of the table, then they should move heaven and earth this summer to ensure Taylor and Hernandez are lining up alongside Bacuna in royal blue at the start of next season.

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