Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle will feel hard done by amid £300k Birmingham City transfer development

Birmingham beat several Championship and League One clubs to the signing of Leonard in the summer but the midfielder has spent the last five league fixtures occupying the bench.

The 22-year-old turned down several offers from the division above as he arrived with aspirations of becoming one of the first names on the team sheet for Blues. That appeared to be the case early doors as Leonard started against Reading, Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient, but the arrival of Tomoki Iwata has complicated matters.

Iwata, signed from Celtic on deadline day, has already formed a formidable partnership with South Korea international Paik Seung-ho, making it incredibly tricky for Leonard to regain his spot. Even the number 10 role has been locked down as Willum Willumsson and Jay Stansfield have rotated with Alfie May and Lyndon Dykes.

Portsmouth and Plymouth were among the clubs heavily linked with Leonard throughout the summer. Those two teams - as well as the likes of Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town and Wrexham - might now feel hard done by that they missed out on one of their targets, as he’s not even playing often for Birmingham.

Northampton Town, Leonard’s home for two seasons on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, will be wondering how the midfielder hasn’t been starting games. Leonard was the Cobblers’ star man throughout his two temporary spells at Sixfields Stadium, especially in 2023/24 as he was ever-present in League One.

The tide could yet turn for Leonard at Blues as the £300,000 arrival is merely three months into a four-year contract, but it looks unlikely that manager Chris Davies will drop Iwata or Paik anytime soon.

Leonard, a former Scotland Under-21 international, has ambitions of playing for his nation at a senior level but he’s unlikely to get his chance if he continues as a Birmingham substitute.