Birmingham City face Millwall on Wednesday evening for their 34th Championship fixture, navigating a squad with a few injury setbacks. Despite recent positive news, four key players remain sidelined as the Blues aim to build on their recent victory at Norwich.
The Elite Performance and Innovation Centre’s treatment room has seen significant improvement, with Ethan Laird and Jack Robinson returning to action in the Norwich game. However, several players are still on the mend.
Most notably, South Korean midfielder Paik Seung-ho is absent to allow his troublesome shoulder more recovery time. Paik, 28, suffered a shoulder injury against Middlesbrough in November but played through the pain for three months. Following an awkward landing on his previously injured shoulder against West Bromwich Albion last week, he has chosen to delay surgery in hopes of finishing the season and representing South Korea at the World Cup. Manager Chris Davies expects his return within a few weeks.
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Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi traveled to Norwich but was not fit enough to feature, only participating in light running drills post-match. Davies is optimistic that Kyogo’s minor knock won’t sideline him for long, though the striker faces competition to reclaim his spot on the bench.
Left-back Alex Cochrane continues to struggle with ankle issues. Once a near ever-present figure in his first season, Cochrane has missed games since the New Year’s Day defeat to Watford and is unlikely to return before April. Davies indicated the club is targeting the last month of the season for his comeback.
Lee Buchanan is progressing from a lengthy knee injury recovery, now back in team training after almost 14 months out. With Kai Wagner’s arrival easing the left-back position, Buchanan remains an emergency option for the Blues. Manager Davies notes Buchanan’s return is in the early stages and stresses the need for a cautious approach to ensure steady progress and prevent setbacks.
As Birmingham City prepare for the Millwall fixture, managing these injuries will be crucial as they continue their Championship campaign.