An update on Marvin Ducksch’s fitness as Birmingham City boss Chris Davies admits an injury setback.

Birmingham City will be without new signing Marvin Ducksch for several weeks due to a fitness issue, manager Chris Davies has revealed.

Blues confirmed Ducksch’s arrival from Werder Bremen earlier this week in a deal understood to be worth merely £1.7 million, and he was unveiled in front of supporters before the 1-1 Championship draw with Ipswich Town. Bluenoses will have to wait a while yet to see the striker in action for the first time, however, with a setback expected to last around a month.

Davies was determined to land a new centre-forward following Alfie May’s departure, preferably one who could hold up the play as a bit of a target man. Ducksch, who scored 54 goals and provided 40 assists in 134 matches for Bremen, certainly fits the bill, but he likely won’t be able to contribute until after the September international break.

Ducksch missing through injury

Although not a big injury, Ducksch arrived at Blues with a small issue and his lack of pre-season has delayed his progress. Jay Stansfield, Kyogo Furuhashi and Lyndon Dykes will be more than capable of leading the line in the meantime, at least, but it’s not an ideal start to Ducksch’s Blues career.

Twice a senior Germany international, Ducksch has been renowned for his consistent availability throughout his career so far. The centre-forward missed just three Bundesliga games in the past three campaigns and played in 29 of the 2. Bundesliga matches in 2021/22.

“Ducksch has come in and is a little bit behind physically because he’s come in with a little niggle, ironically,” Davies said after the Ipswich draw. “It looks like he will be team training within the next couple of weeks but he’s going to take a little bit of time.

“He’s missed a good few weeks of pre-season with a niggle. He’s not one that does normally get injured much, but what we don’t want to do is rush him and suddenly he’s out for a longer period. We’ve got to get him right, get him fit, get him strong and then ready to go,” Davies admitted.

Blues can expect plenty from Ducksch

When Ducksch eventually gets going, the German should be able to contribute plenty. It’ll be difficult to take over from Stansfield and Kyogo in the starting XI but Ducksch, with his height and physicality, offers a different approach if Davies needs it.

“He’s a player that is obviously a physical size, 6ft 2in, a nine that can hold the ball, link, turn, slide people in, technically good and a good finisher as well when he gets chances in and around the box,” Davies said of Ducksch’s profile.

“We had four strikers last year with Jukey (Lukas Jutkiewicz) and Lyndon being physical presences and Alfie (May) and Jay, and I was keen to make sure we’ve got a few weapons to use. With Ducksch, he just gives us something a bit different to the others and it’s good to have that.”

Read on: Chris Davies lets loose after Ipswich controversy.