Birmingham City midfielder Paik Seung-ho is at the most crucial stage of his Blues career as he enters his fourth season with the club, with the Championship campaign set to kick off against Swansea City in under three weeks. The 29-year-old South Korean international reported for pre-season at the start of the week after extended leave following his country's World Cup participation, missing the opening three weeks of pre-season including fixtures against Huddersfield Town, Solihull Moors and Porto.
Physical Fitness and Rapid Integration
Paik is physically fit, having played his last World Cup game for South Korea less than four weeks ago, and the expectation is that he will quickly get back into the swing of things. With shoulder surgery seemingly postponed until next year and no major international tournament on the horizon, Paik can focus on rediscovering his best form for Birmingham City.
Now two-and-a-half years into his Blues career, Paik is viewed as one of the team's leaders. Head coach Chris Davies has placed a huge amount of faith in him over the past two seasons. Paik candidly admitted in an interview with BirminghamLive last season: "I can feel that he's given me a lot of chances and trust."
Inconsistencies and Away Form Concerns
Despite his quality, some of Paik's performances away from St Andrew's have been off-colour, a theme that emerged last season. "Passive" was an appropriate word to describe several of Blues' displays on the road, and that seeped into Paik's game. At St Andrew's, he had no such issues, scoring four goals and delivering dominant displays to help Blues maintain one of the Championship's best home records.
For Davies, Paik remains a non-negotiable starter. During Paik's poorest run last season, Davies scoffed at the suggestion of leaving him out. However, the inconsistencies that have prevented Paik from being recognised as one of the Championship's best midfielders in his 18 months in the second tier must be corrected.
Contract Situation and Premier League Ambitions
Two years remain on Paik's contract, making this season significant. If Paik is to play in the Premier League – and many who have worked with him believe he can – he needs to accelerate his progress. He will turn 30 at the end of this season, and it is rare for a player of that age to reach the Premier League for the first time.
Blues appear to have found the perfect partner for Paik in Jhon Solis, which should allow Paik to play with fewer restrictions. The shackles must come off for his naysayers to appreciate his full capabilities. This season is time for Paik to deliver and prove he belongs among the Championship's elite midfielders.
