Major Birmingham City injury update emerges before Middlesbrough showdown.

In advance of Saturday’s away game at Middlesbrough, manager of Birmingham City Wayne Rooney has delivered a positive injury update. Before the October international break, a variety of new fitness problems were encountered, but there has been time for individuals impacted to begin their individual recovery processes.

Ethan Laird, Alfie Chang, Lee Buchanan, George Hall, Tyler Roberts, and Keshi Anderson are among those who have recently visited the medical facility, as was mentioned in the Birmingham World injury round-up earlier this week. Since several of these players would start if healthy, Rooney has had a difficult time making decisions about starting lineups in his early days as manager. However, there was one encouraging development this week that will please Bluenoses.

“Ethan Laird is the closest [of those injured] to being back. We’re hoping he’ll be back in some capacity next week,” Rooney unveiled to Blues TV on Thursday. “The other lads are still a few weeks away, so they’re not close yet, but Ethan is the one who could potentially train with us next week,” Rooney said.

Man of the Match in his two first games as a Birmingham player, Laird was seriously impressive at the start of the season but was forced off through injury at Bristol City on August 19. The right-back hasn’t played since and Blues had to sign Cody Drameh as a backup late in the summer transfer window. Drameh has done a brilliant job but Laird’s imminent return will no doubt be a huge boost.

As Rooney alluded to, Buchanan, Hall, Roberts and Anderson are all expected to make their way to fitness in the next few weeks. Chang, however, will take far longer with his significant knee injury. Blues’ new manager will be hoping no fresh problems prop up during his first game in charge.