Birmingham City manager Chris Davies is preparing for a delicate balancing act ahead of his side's FA Cup third-round trip to face Cambridge United this Saturday. The Blues travel to the Abbey Stadium to take on the League Two outfit, with the match dependent on a midday pitch inspection.
Davies Weighs Up Team Selection for Cup Test
Following a demanding festive schedule of five matches in just 16 days, Davies is expected to rotate his squad. However, the boss has emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum after last weekend's morale-boosting victory over Coventry City and improving the team's poor away form.
"There's always a balance to this because it's the next match and the most important one," Davies stated. "We're away from home, that's an area we have to improve obviously, so my job is to get the balance right in team selection and to continue the momentum after winning." He acknowledged Birmingham are favourites but warned of the threat posed by a Cambridge side they faced in League One last season.
Midfield and Defence Set for Changes
The heavy workload means several players are due a rest. Midfielders Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-ho played every minute of the recent five-game stretch, while defender Jack Robinson featured for 424 of a possible 450 minutes.
In defence, Christoph Klarer is set to return after serving a three-match suspension. He is likely to be partnered by the fresher Phil Neumann, with Alfons Sampsted coming in at right-back and Kai Wagner continuing at left-back. The uncertainty over Marc Leonard's future makes it improbable he will feature, meaning Iwata and Paik could share duties alongside Tommy Doyle in the engine room.
Attack Offers Chance for Fresh Faces
The attacking positions present an opportunity for Davies to inject some freshness. On the right wing, Willum Willumsson could start to give Patrick Roberts a break, while Japanese playmaker Kanya Fujimoto has a strong chance of making his first start since August. Youngster Lewis Koumas is tipped for another outing on the left flank.
The most significant selection, however, is up front. Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi is the clear favourite to lead the line as Birmingham look to build his confidence and goal tally. A strike against lower-league opposition could provide the perfect catalyst.
Our predicted Birmingham City starting XI to face Cambridge United (4-2-3-1): Allsop; Sampsted, Neumann, Klarer, Wagner; Iwata, Doyle; Willumsson, Fujimoto, Koumas; Kyogo.
