John Eustace is hoping to welcome back some of Birmingham City’s injured stars after the international break after ruling six out of the clash with West Bromwich Albion on Friday night.
Blues are set to be without Ethan Laird, Lee Buchanan, Keshi Anderson, George Hall, Tyler Roberts and long-term absentee Alfie Chang against the Baggies. Buchanan (ankle) and Anderson (hamstring) suffered their injuries more recently, but Blues have been without the other four players for the majority of this season.
Providing an update in his pre-Albion press conference, Eustace said: “No news on that. Ethan is hopefully 10-15 days away, which will be a massive boost to get him back in the squad. Tyler is still struggling with his calf so he will be three or four weeks away.
“George Hall is pushing his work up every day. I’m hoping after the international break we will get two or three back.”
Lee Buchanan
Injury: Ankle (Sustained September 25)
Buchanan rolled his ankle during a training session and now faces a spell on the sidelines. Blues could be without Buchanan until after the next international break in yet another significant blow.
The 22-year-old has become a key player for Blues since making a permanent switch from Werder Bremen in July. Buchanan has started all seven of the Championship matches he has been available for and contributed to one of the best defensive records in the league.
Eustace said (September 28): “Lee Buchanan got injured on Monday and he will be out for four or five weeks, which is a massive blow to us. Lee has been an outstanding performer – one of the best left-backs in the league. He had quite a bad slip on the training field and he’s got quite a bad strain.”
Keshi Anderson
Injury: Hamstring (Sustained September 22)
Anderson had to be replaced by Oliver Burke shortly before half-time after pulling up in the middle of the park against QPR. Anderson – who only made nine appearances in the Championship last term for Blackpool due to a succession of injuries – is set for an extended stint out the team.
Eustace said (September 28): “I think Keshi will be out between six and eight weeks.”
George Hall
Injury: Hamstring (Sustained August 29)
George Hall’s first start in over four months ended in another injury for Birmingham City’s talented teen.
Eustace included Hall in Blues’ line-up for the Carabao Cup second round defeat to Cardiff City on August 29. It was Hall’s first start since April 15 when Blues played Sunderland in the Championship, but he pulled his hamstring shortly before half-time and didn’t reappear for the second half.
Eustace said (September 28): “George is progressing nicely. He is still maybe three or four weeks away.”
Ethan Laird
Injury: Hamstring (Sustained August 19)
Laird suffered a hamstring strain towards the end of pre-season and picked up a similar problem in the win at Bristol City. He was replaced in the line-up by Juninho Bacuna against Plymouth and deadline day signing Cody Drameh has now taken over right-back duties.
Eustace revealed that Laird had suffered a setback following the defeat to Preston. Laird has been confined to Blues’ gym for almost two months now, but Eustace’s latest update was a positive one.
Eustace said (October 5): “Ethan is hopefully 10-15 days away, which will be a massive boost to get him back in the squad.”
Tyler Roberts
Injury: Calf (Sustained August 11)
Roberts completed pre-season, despite having to manage a groin complaint towards the end of it, and started the opening day draw with Swansea City. He was withdrawn after 60 minutes and rested for the Carabao Cup victory over Cheltenham Town.
Having trained all week Roberts was expected to start against his former club Leeds United on August 12 before picking up a new injury on the eve of the match. Seven weeks on, Roberts is still sidelined, and Eustace says he is no closer to returning.
Eustace said (September 28): “Tyler had a bit of a mishap in his rehab last week, so he’s going to be five or six weeks away. These are big blows to us, of course they are, but it’s about the squad and we have players to come in and replace them.
“He’s had some more calf issues. The lad is working as hard as he can in the gym and the medical department is working as hard as they can. It’s unfortunate but we need to get to the bottom of it and get him fitter and ready as soon as we can. He is a top performer at this level, when he’s fit.”
Alfie Chang
Injury: Knee (ACL – sustained August 22)
Chang is set for an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury during training on August 22. The midfielder has become a fixture in Blues’ matchday squad under Eustace and was playing the role of back-up to midfield pairing Krystian Bielik and Ivan Sunjic.
Having undergone surgery on his injured ACL injury, Chang could be seen on crutches at Blues’ meeting with Millwall on September 2. Speaking about Chang’s unfortunate injury, Eustace said (August 24): “It’s a massive blow. Alfie was pivotal in what we wanted to do last year. He came in at some important times in big games. The way he went down was a real sad thing to see.”
Giving an update on September 14, Eustace added: “Alfie is progressing well but we have to realise that he is going to be out for eight or nine months. It’s very sad for him but it’s all part of being a footballer. It’s all part of the process of how he comes back from it.”
