Birmingham City’s upcoming Boxing Day fixture against Derby County is set to test manager Chris Davies, who is grappling with a shortage of options at full-back. The situation has worsened with injuries sidelining key defenders.
Right-back Ethan Laird remains out with injury, while Bright Osayi-Samuel is away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Adding to the woes, Alex Cochrane has now also picked up an injury, leaving Davies with limited choices. Alfons Sampsted, previously considered surplus, could emerge as the sole recognized full-back available for the match.
Despite the challenges, Tomoki Iwata is expected to fill the right-back position once again. At center-back, Phil Neumann partners Christoph Klarer, while the absence of Cochrane leaves a direct contest between Jack Robinson and Eiran Cashin for the left-back spot. Robinson is preferred for left-back duties, though Cashin’s solid performance against Sheffield United suggests he may impress against his former club.
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The suspension of midfielder Tommy Doyle compounds Davies’ troubles. Ideally, Iwata would drop into midfield to restore the team’s fighting spirit, but his defensive duties prevent this switch. As a result, Marc Leonard is set for a rare start. Leonard, who delivered a strong performance in the 4-1 win over Norwich, has been on the bench for the past month but now gets his chance to step up.
Midfield duo Leonard and Paik will need to develop chemistry quickly, as they look to navigate the festive period without Doyle’s presence. Meanwhile, the attacking lineup is expected to see the return of Patrick Roberts alongside Jay Stansfield and Demarai Gray.
For the final attacking spot, Davies faces a decision between Willum Willumsson, Marvin Ducksch, and Kyogo Furuhashi. Given Davies’ recent remarks about Kyogo in the lead-up to the Sheffield United match—a game the Japanese striker missed—it’s likely Kyogo will earn the nod. While he may not always find the back of the net, Kyogo’s tireless work rate and ability to excite fans make him an invaluable asset. In contrast, Ducksch’s performances can be inconsistent, adding to the argument for Kyogo’s inclusion.
With these considerations in mind, Birmingham City’s predicted starting XI for the match against Derby County lines up in a 4-2-3-1 formation:
Allsop; Iwata, Neumann, Klarer, Cashin; Leonard, Paik; Roberts, Stansfield, Gray; Kyogo