Birmingham City find themselves in an unusual position this season—functioning dynamically without a traditional right-back. This was evident in their goalless draw against West Bromwich Albion, where Tomoki Iwata, who had been the team’s improvised right-back since early October, was left on the bench for the first time this season despite being available.
In Iwata’s place, Bright Osayi-Samuel stepped in. Although the Nigerian international displayed notable athleticism and ball progression, he lacked the positional familiarity Iwata brings to the role. Meanwhile, Ethan Laird is approaching fitness after a five-month hiatus due to a hamstring injury, further adding to the competition for the right-back slot.
At the start of the season, Chris Davies clearly outlined his vision for the right-back position—a wide player providing width, while the right-winger drifts inward into a number 10 role to create offensive chaos. Laird, who excelled at right-back in League One, once likened the role to “doing three jobs all at once”: maintaining width, making unseen runs to disrupt defenses, and quickly recovering defensively.
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Osayi-Samuel shares a similar background as a converted winger, having been reoriented to full-back by Vitor Pereira at Fenerbahce. Birmingham moved quickly to secure his services, favoring him during the early weeks of the campaign, even as Laird showcased standout performances during the previous League One season.
Osayi-Samuel began brightly with a Man of the Match effort against Ipswich Town but then struggled with form before injury sidelined him, allowing Iwata to take over. Iwata’s style evolved the role—he frequently underlaps the winger and often ventures into midfield, exploiting extraordinary freedom in possession. He sometimes bypasses the traditional right-back duties to act almost as an auxiliary attacking midfielder or even a forward.
This tactical shift aligns with Davies’ squad composition. Right-wingers Patrick Roberts and Carlos Vicente prefer to hold their width, contrasting with Iwata’s inward movement. Roberts, in particular, excels when operating wide, delivering crosses and reverse passes that have led to key assists.
Osayi-Samuel’s recent return from a physically intense Africa Cup of Nations—where he accumulated 546 minutes over just three weeks and helped Nigeria secure third place—promises a renewed impetus. Before AFCON, he managed only 187 minutes for Birmingham, partly due to injury but also fitness concerns.
Reflecting on his progress, Osayi-Samuel told BirminghamLive: “It was difficult before AFCON. I wasn’t fully fit. AFCON was an opportunity to represent my country, and I had a very good tournament. My aim was to bring that momentum back to my club. I feel like a very different player now.”
He added, “At AFCON, I played two 120-minute matches, so I’ve had more minutes—I feel more confident, fitter, stronger, and able to run longer. Now it’s about maintaining that momentum.”
The challenge for Osayi-Samuel—and for Laird, who returns from injury—is demonstrating that they can fulfill the demands of this evolved right-back role better than Iwata. Both players, in effect, feel like ‘new signings’ due to the system’s demands and their return to fitness. Only time will reveal who will cement this unique position under Chris Davies’ management.