Lee Bowyer delivers Troy Deeney verdict, responds to ‘that’ tweet

Birmingham City manager Lee Bowyer says Troy Deeney will need to ‘bide his time’ to get back into the Blues squad after 11 weeks on the sidelines injured.

Blues have been in relatively good form over recent weeks with loan striker Lyle Taylor cementing himself as a firm fan favourite with four goals and one assist in that time.

Scott Hogan has been a regular and playing well also and despite Deeney being the club captain and a boyhood bluenose, Bowyer explains that this makes him no different to any other player.

“Nothing’s changed,” explained the manager in regards to Deeney.

“[He’s not been playing] because he hasn’t been fit for 11 weeks? Nothing’s changed. No problems. No worries.

“Will he play again for me? There’s no reason why not.

“He trained well this week, hopefully he trains well again next week.

“Troy Deeney is no different to anybody else. Troy Deeney gets treated the same and with the same respect as every other player.

“If you work hard and you do what I ask, then you play. Competition for places. He’s got three strikers that are in front of him and he’s got to work hard to get back involved, that’s the same for every player not just Troy.

“Ivan Sunjic wasn’t in the team today, he did nothing wrong against Swansea he was excellent. Jordan Graham has been excellent for I don’t know how many games now, he’s not in the team today.

“Sometimes it’s just small little tactical things. Troy has trained for three days in 11 weeks out, he has to bide his time like everybody else.”

There was of course plenty of chatter surrounding ‘that’ tweet that was sent out by Deeney prior to the game on Friday afternoon, one that was swiftly deleted.

For those that missed it, during the pre-match press conference, the manager claimed that the striker will need at least another week of training before being involved in the match day squad - something that the official Blues Twitter page posted online.

Deeney then responded by quote tweeting it with a message along the lines of ‘first I’ve heard of this.’

It was quickly taken down but not before plenty of Blues fans had got hold of it.

On that specific issue, Bowyer claims he is fully aware of it but it’s something that has now been ‘dealt with’ in the proper manner.

“I’m aware, I’m aware of what happened but let me just say and put this all to bed, that that situation has been dealt with,” he explained.

“It’s been dealt with in the right way and it’s private between me and Troy, there’s no problems.

“The most important thing for me is today we won, that’s all I care about. I know other people will try and stir up stuff but there’s nothing there to stir up.

“Me and Troy are fine. Me and everybody else is fine. Troy and everybody else is fine. There’s nothing to even talk about.

“Troy has been out for 11 weeks and he’s come back and he’s got to catch up, that’s it, plain and simple.”

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