Birmingham City have ramped up their preparations for the new season with a training camp in Portugal, and the first glimpse of Chris Davies' side will come on Friday when they face Huddersfield Town in their opening friendly at the Estadio da Nora. Davies is expected to give players their first 45 minutes of the summer, cautioning against drawing major conclusions from the match, though Blues previously swept aside Sevilla 3-1 on their last Algarve trip in 2025.
Pre-Season Context
With four weeks until Blues' first competitive fixture—a long away trip to Swansea City in the Carabao Cup first round—several position battles are set to unfold. Davies settled on a starting XI towards the end of last season, and nine of those players remain, following Jhon Solis' permanent transfer. Vastly experienced centre-back Dael Fry is the only new addition to the camp so far. More signings are expected, but the nucleus of the squad is in Portugal, and players are already competing for places.
Osayi-Samuel vs Laird: Right-Back Battle
An injury to Ethan Laird has allowed Bright Osayi-Samuel to steal a march on his competitor for the second successive summer. Davies hopes Laird will return to training soon, but Osayi-Samuel already has two weeks of fitness banked and the chance to start pre-season as first choice. Given Osayi-Samuel's strong finish to last season, Laird might have been forced to play deputy anyway, but Osayi-Samuel is now firmly in the driving seat. Tomoki Iwata could also feature at right-back, but with midfield shortages, he is expected to start pre-season in the engine room. Iwata started most Championship games at right-back last season but faces competition in midfield from Jhon Solis and Paik Seung-ho, who returns in the coming weeks.
Wagner vs Cochrane: Left-Back Duel
Blues have three capable Championship left-backs, but Lee Buchanan is playing catch-up after just four appearances in two years due to injuries. Kai Wagner is the man in possession after a fine start to his Blues career, but Alex Cochrane offers a different tactical option. Cochrane may lack Wagner's attacking instincts, but Davies rates him as an exceptional passer. If Blues need a full-back to step into midfield, Cochrane would be Davies' first choice. The two left-backs will compete in pre-season, promising an intriguing battle.
Neumann vs Fry: Centre-Back Contest
Phil Neumann impressed with a series of imperious displays alongside Christoph Klarer towards the end of last season. However, the arrival of Dael Fry—who has 248 Championship starts and captained Middlesbrough to the play-off final—has intensified competition. Neumann starts pre-season on the backfoot, but his availability could be an asset, as Fry started only 35 league games in the last two seasons. Davies may view Klarer and Fry as his preferred partnership, especially since Fry operates on the left side, a problematic position for Blues last season. Pre-season games will indicate whether that is the case; if Fry partners Klarer against Huddersfield, Neumann should worry for his place.
Vicente vs Roberts: Right-Wing Options
While Demarai Gray is unchallenged on the left wing, Blues have two experienced options on the right. Carlos Vicente cemented his place towards the end of last season, and it would be a surprise if Patrick Roberts forces his way back in front of him. Roberts was an unused substitute in Blues' final five matches last term, but his pedigree at Championship level is well known. A storming pre-season from Roberts could give Davies something to think about, as form cannot be ignored.
