Paik Seung-ho fitness update as 'disappointing’ summer signing finally axed - Birmingham City predicted XI vs Huddersfield

Blues are in action yet again just three days after their dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Peterborough United.

Chris Davies’ side are at the top of the table for the first time this season and the outlook can improve further this midweek. Another three points would secure Birmingham’s place at the summit for another four days at least, dealing a blow to fellow title challengers Wrexham.

Wednesday’s opposition are no slouch, however, so it’ll be tough for Blues to make it a seventh successive win. Huddersfield are in a spot of bother having lost four of their last five matches but the Terriers, relegated alongside Birmingham, are aiming to bounce straight back to the Championship.

Michael Duff will be desperate to get his team out of their rut by causing an upset at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. Blues must ensure they don’t display any complacency and Davies is bound to name another strong lineup.

There are a few selection dilemmas to consider, starting with the goalkeeper. Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who has been under heavy scrutiny for a while due to his shaky distribution, gifted a goal to Peterborough at the weekend. Several midfield and attacking positions are also far from secured.

Birmingham City predicted XI vs Huddersfield

With all that in mind, here are the 11 players we reckon Davies will name on Wednesday, as well as brief explanations for each inclusion.

GK - Ryan Allsop

Allsop surely deserves an opportunity to start following a fourth disappointing error of the season from Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who should surely be benched at some point.

RB - Taylor Garder-Hickman

Gardner-Hickman was signed as a central midfielder but he’s seriously impressed when deputising at right-back in Ethan Laird’s absence.

CB - Krystian Bielik

Bielik scored the winner on Saturday after returning from his one-match suspension. The Pole is absolutely vital to this team.

CB - Christoph Klarer

Klarer has been excellent alongside Bielik throughout the opening matches. Their partnership is probably of high-end Championship standard.

LB - Alex Cochrane

Cochrane has started the season superbly and the quality of delivery into the box has been a joy to behold. He’s an easy pick at left-back.

CM - Marc Leonard

Leonard could get a run-out this midweek as he’s been on the fringes of a return to the starting XI for a while. Iwata is still ahead in the pecking order but Davies is likely to rotate the pair when the fixture congestion ramps up, just like now.

CM - Paik Seung-ho

Paik was a slight injury concern late on against Peterborough as he went down and was subsituted. Davies later confirmed it was just a spot of cramp, thankfully.

RW - Willum Willumsson

Willumsson scored his second Blues goal at the weekend, topping off a fine showing. The Iceland international has been playing on the right of an attacking midfield three.

LW- Emil Hansson

Hansson has been the most impressive of the left wide attackers so far this campaign. He’s lacked consistency at times, however, so needs to find rhythm.

CAM - Jay Stansfield

Stansfield has been absolutely excellent since signing permanently from Fulham and is without doubt one of the first names on the team sheet. What a player.

ST - Alfie May

May, still Blues’ top scorer this season with four, deserves to return to the XI. The 31-year-old has been benched by Lyndon Dykes for the last two fixtures.