Birmingham City are set to face Oxford United in the Championship this Saturday with a significant injury list that will see five first-team players remain unavailable for selection.
Injury Situation Unchanged Ahead of Oxford Trip
Manager Chris Davies has confirmed that Birmingham's injury situation is unlikely to improve before this weekend's fixture, with several key players still sidelined. The Blues have been coping without important figures such as Alex Cochrane and Demarai Gray for the past month, and Davies does not anticipate any returns until well into February.
The team showed some resilience last weekend, securing a 1-1 draw against Stoke City with a strengthened bench thanks to recent transfer window additions. However, the absence of these five players continues to present challenges for Davies as he prepares his squad for the Oxford United encounter.
Detailed Player Updates and Expected Return Timelines
Jack Robinson (Hamstring)
The experienced defender suffered a hamstring issue during Birmingham's FA Cup victory over Cambridge United, asking to be substituted in the second half. Robinson has now missed the last three matches and Davies has grouped him with other players in terms of recovery timeline.
"I would group Demarai, Jack and Ethan in terms of a timeline together," Davies explained. "We're still a good few weeks away from them actually training, then once they get training they need to build a little bit. They all have different injuries but I think they'll be returning to training at a similar time, but we're talking well into February."
Alex Cochrane (Ankle)
The left-back, who was virtually ever-present in his first season at Birmingham, has been struggling with niggling injuries this campaign. Cochrane has been absent since the New Year's Day defeat to Watford and isn't expected to feature again until April at the earliest.
Davies provided a clear timeline: "With Alex, my understanding is that the last month of the season is when we can think of him."
Demarai Gray (Calf)
The 29-year-old winger suffered a calf injury during Birmingham's Boxing Day draw with Derby County, forcing him to miss the last seven games. Gray was enjoying a particularly strong period of form before his injury setback.
"I still think we're looking into February for Demarai," said Davies. "I think the original estimation was six weeks, but he would be one that I think would get back in a quick timeframe. He's a quick healer and not injured much, really professional, so he'll do everything he can to reduce that time. But I think we are looking right into February for that one."
Ethan Laird (Hamstring)
Laird hasn't featured since sustaining a hamstring injury in the defeat to Coventry on September 27. The player has been dealing with a high-grade hamstring issue that has kept him out for an extended period.
Davies offered some optimism about Laird's progress: "Ethan Laird is step by step moving forward, hopefully he can start training and being with everyone again in February."
Lee Buchanan (Knee)
Buchanan is now twelve months into his recovery from a serious knee injury and has recently begun light training. While the signing of Kai Wagner had addressed Birmingham's left-back shortage, Cochrane's subsequent injury means Buchanan's eventual return could prove crucial in the second half of the season.
Davies emphasised the need for caution: "It's been such a long injury that you've got to be cautious with that but we hope Lee can get up to speed. He would need a few under-21s games to build."
Manager's Perspective on Squad Management
Davies faces the ongoing challenge of managing his squad through this injury crisis while maintaining competitive performances in the Championship. The manager must balance immediate match preparations with longer-term recovery planning for his injured players.
The situation highlights the physical demands of Championship football and the importance of squad depth throughout a challenging season. Birmingham's ability to secure a draw against Stoke despite these absences demonstrates the resilience Davies is building within his squad.
