Birmingham City predicted XI vs Sheffield Wednesday: five changes made amid big call on £4m midfielder

Birmingham City have faced a tough run of results in recent weeks and it will be interesting to see how Chris Davies’ side deal with adversity when they host Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship on Tuesday evening.

Blues were on the wrong end of a 3-0 hammering at Coventry City last time out, partly thanks to a first-half red card for Jack Robinson which left his side with a mountain to climb. The defeat was a fourth in five matches in all competitions and fans will be calling for much better when the struggling Owls visit St. Andrews’ on the first midweek Championship matchday of the season.

With this in mind, Davies is expected to ring the changes as he reacts to probably the most challenging period of his short managerial career so far. He has largely trusted the same core of players this season but may opt to change things around.

Birmingham City predicted starting XI as five changes made

GK - Ryan Allsop: His defence had a difficult afternoon last time out but Allsop did enough to keep his place. England U21 goalkeeper James Beadle is still waiting for his opportunity on the sidelines, though.

RB - Bright Osayi-Samuel: Scored an unfortunate own goal last time out but should keep his place at right-back as he continues to bed into his new club.

CB - Christoph Klarer: The captain performed admirably in the face of a Coventry onslaught with his side down to ten men. One of the only players who could say such a thing.

CB - Eiran Cashin: The first big call Davies has to make is who replaces the suspended Robinson. Brighton loanee Cashin has not been given the chance to start for Blues in the league thus far but was called upon ahead of Phil Neumann following the red card at Coventry, albeit he did not cover himself in glory. He may be given the chance to show what he can do in less challenging circumstances from the start.

LB - Alex Cochrane: May return to the starting line-up at left-back after Ethan Laird was taken off with an injury last time out. Will look to bomb forward and create opportunities.

Big calls made by Davies in Blues midfield and attack

CM - Paik Seung-ho: The South Korean was not at his best at Coventry but has started every Championship game so far and is likely to keep his place at St. Andrews.

CM - Tommy Doyle: Davies might finally give Wolves loanee Doyle the chance to start in the league for the first time ahead of Tomoki Iwata. Blues will look to control the ball and the £4.3m man will aim to unlock the away defence from deep.

RW - Patrick Roberts: The Sunderland loanee last started at Stoke but may return to the line-up here in place of Demarai Gray.

AM - Jay Stansfield: Record signing and joint-top scorer Stansfield will hope to return to the score sheet on Tuesday on his last attempt to avoid a dry September in front of goal, if he is passed fit to start.

LW - Lewis Koumas: The 20-year-old was unlucky to be hooked following the red card at the weekend. Still awaiting his first Blues goal but he has shown bright moments so far.

ST - Kyogo Furuhashi: The Japanese has found himself amongst the substitutes for the last three league fixtures, but his side have only got weaker in front of goal without him. May get a recall here, with super-sub Lyndon Dykes reverting back to the bench.