Birmingham City may be without five players against Norwich City due to a new injury.
Birmingham City’s most recent news.Live contains the most recent injury updates ahead of Saturday’s match against Norwich City.
Birmingham City could be missing five players for their trip to Norwich City this weekend.
Blues are hoping for their first victory of the season after an outstanding start to the Championship season has been tempered by two points out of a possible 12. On Friday night, QPR held John Eustace’s team to a 1-1 draw at St Andrew’s.
Due to a hamstring injury, Keshi Anderson had to be substituted in the first half of that game. The 28-year-old is now expected to miss time.
“It’s a really disappointing one for Kesh,” coach Eustace remarked. “We requested that he play three games in six days. He had major injuries last year and has been fantastic for us.
“We asked him (on Thursday) if he was good to go again, and he put his hand up and said yes, but it just looks like it was a game too much unfortunately. He has come off with a hamstring strain and we will have to assess that.”
Keshi Anderson
Hamstring strain (suffered on September 22)
Anderson suffered a hamstring injury in Friday’s 1-1 tie with Queens Park Rangers.
After pulling up in the middle of the park, the winger was replaced by Oliver Burke shortly before halftime. Anderson, who only made nine Championship appearances for Blackpool last season owing to a series of ailments, now appears to be on the sidelines.
“Any strain is going to be two or three weeks minimum, I would have thought,” Eustace remarked. It’s quite unfortunate that he had to leave. That hampered us a little because we had to move bodies around in midfield, which meant we couldn’t make the substitutions we intended to make later on.”
George Hall
Hamstring (injured on August 29)
George Hall’s first start in more than four months resulted in yet another injury for Birmingham City’s precocious adolescent.
Eustace named Hall to the Blues’ starting lineup for the Carabao Cup second round loss to Cardiff City on August 29. Hall had his first start since April 15 against Sunderland in the Championship, but he strained his hamstring shortly before halftime and did not return for the second half.
Eustace stated on August 31: “George has had some terrible luck already this season and will be out for at least four weeks I would have thought.”
Ethan Laird
Hamstring (injured on August 19)
Laird suffered a hamstring strain near the conclusion of preseason and a similar issue in the win over Bristol City. Juninho Bacuna replaced him in the starting lineup against Plymouth, while Cody Drameh started at right-back against Millwall, Watford, and Preston. Blues have taken a hit with the news that Laird has had a setback in his recuperation.
“Ethan is still a couple of weeks away,” Eustace told me last week. “Unfortunately he had a bit of a setback last week with his hamstring.”
Tyler Roberts
Calf injury (suffered on August 11)
Roberts finished pre-season despite a groin complaint at the end, and started the opening day draw with Swansea City. After 60 minutes, he was substituted and rested for the Carabao Cup triumph over Cheltenham Town.
Roberts had trained all week and was set to start against his previous side Leeds United on August 12 before suffering a new injury on the day of the game. Roberts is still out for six weeks.
“Tyler is still a few weeks away as well,” Eustace explained. “That’s all I have to say.” Something happens every time we believe we’re getting close to them.
“We have to protect them because they have a history of injuries.” We have to take after them, and the most essential thing is not the short term, but the long term, so they don’t break down again when we get them back.”
Alfie Chang
Knee (ACL – suffered on August 22)
Chang is expected to miss a significant amount of time after suffering a major knee injury during training on August 22. Under Eustace, the midfielder has been a mainstay in the Blues’ matchday squad, serving as a backup to midfield duo Krystian Bielik and Ivan Sunjic.
Chang was seen on crutches at Blues’ match against Millwall on September 2 after undergoing surgery on his torn ACL. “It’s a massive blow,” Eustace stated (August 24) of Chang’s unlucky accident. Last year, Alfie was crucial to our plans. He came in at critical points in major games. It was heartbreaking to witness how he died.”
On September 14, Eustace provided an update, saying, “Alfie is progressing well, but we have to accept that he will be out for eight or nine months.” It’s heartbreaking for him, but it’s all part of the job. It’s all part of the process of how he recovers.”
