Birmingham City have returned to pre-season training at their Henley-in-Arden base this week, with every first-team player except Paik Seung-ho reporting for duty. The South Korean international has been granted extended leave following his participation in the World Cup. Blues will kick off their season with a Carabao Cup tie at Swansea City on the weekend of August 7-9, followed by a Championship opener at Sheffield United.
Pre-Season Crucial for Player Futures
Manager Chris Davies has emphasised that performances on the training pitches over the next few weeks are vitally important, with further transfer activity expected. For some players, their futures at the club could be decided by their displays in pre-season.
Ryan Allsop: Back-Up No More?
At 34, Allsop has two years remaining on his contract and appears settled as the back-up goalkeeper. However, with only rookie Brad Mayo as competition, the former Derby County stopper may sense an opportunity to reclaim the number one spot. Davies has consistently insisted on having two 'number ones', giving Allsop a glimmer of hope until a new goalkeeper is signed.
Ethan Laird: Need to Convince Manager
Laird started just three league games at right-back last season, and despite being viewed as Blues' best right-back by many supporters, he still has work to do to win over his manager. Even when fully fit at the end of the campaign, Laird was not an automatic choice and often filled in at left-back. The battle with Osayi-Samuel for the right-back berth promises to be intriguing, and Laird must show Davies he can deliver consistently.
Lee Buchanan: Long Road Back
Buchanan has played only four first-team games in two years due to injury, making his return a major unknown. The left-back, known for his defensive solidity, faces competition from first-choice Kai Wagner and Alex Cochrane, both of whom have Davies' trust. Buchanan is unlikely to be rushed, but he has everything to prove to re-establish himself in the first-team picture.
Jack Robinson: Redemption Needed
The former Sheffield United captain is currently third-choice centre-back with 12 months left on his contract. Robinson, who turns 33 in September, was plagued by disciplinary issues last season, including red cards. To ensure his Blues career is remembered for more than misdemeanours, he needs a barnstorming pre-season to force his way back into contention.
Patrick Roberts: Fading Role
Despite a respectable tally of five goals and five assists last season, Roberts' influence waned towards the end of the campaign. Davies dropped the winger for away games to increase physicality, and Roberts was an unused substitute in six of the final eight games, starting just once. He is likely to begin next season as second fiddle to Carlos Vicente, raising doubts about his long-term future at the club.
Kyogo Furuhashi: Fit or Sold?
The former Celtic striker returns for pre-season without shoulder concerns for the first time in years, having undergone surgery at the end of last season. The decision to operate could indicate Blues want him fully fit for pre-season—or to facilitate a sale. Kyogo has had his chances under Davies and missed them, and a bit-part role seems the best he can hope for unless a spectacular pre-season changes the manager's mind.
Notable Exclusions
Kanya Fujimoto and Marvin Ducksch are absent from this list. Ducksch's abilities are well-known, and a pre-season won't alter perceptions; an exit is expected. Fujimoto, after only 45 minutes of Championship football last season, is clearly not in Davies' plans and should not waste time trying to prove himself at Blues this summer.
