Wayne Rooney brings his Birmingham City side to the Stadium of Light for Saturday’s lunchtime showdown.
Birmingham City could be missing up to six first-team players for Saturday lunchtime’s Championship game with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. While the Black Cats will have to deal without the suspended Dan Ballard and Luke O’Nien, Blues manager Wayne Rooney faces something of an injury crisis.
Like the Sunderland duo Ballard and O’Nien, Krystian Bielik will miss Birmingham’s trip to Sunderland this weekend after picking up his fifth caution of the season in the draw with Ipswich Town. Poland international Bielik was benched by Rooney against Ipswich, but he was introduced as a second-half substitute as Blues surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2. Bielik was booked for a foul on Dane Scarlett in the 82nd minute and will now be suspended for the game at the Stadium of Light.
Alfie Chang is out for the long term with a serious knee injury, and Birmingham will also be without injured trio Lee Buchanan, Keshi Anderson, and Tyler Roberts until after the international break. Ethan Laird gave Blues hope when he returned to the starting lineup against Ipswich after missing more than two months. The right-back earned a spot in the Championship team of the week and played just under 80 minutes at St Andrew’s.
Laird could soon be joined in the squad by George Hall, although Rooney might not risk the 19-year-old in Blues’ final game before the international break. “George has been training with the team now for the last ten days,” Rooney said.
“At a push I probably could push for him for next weekend but I think because of the injuries we are probably better being a bit cautious and getting over the international break and then have him available after that. I think hamstrings are always difficult injuries with obviously all your power coming from there. That’s why we’re being a bit careful and a bit cautious, we don’t want him to come back and do it again. We’re building more power back up and making sure when he does come in, he’s coming in ready to play.”
Keshi Anderson :
Hamstring (Sustained September 22)
Anderson had to be replaced by Oliver Burke shortly before half-time after pulling up in the middle of the park against QPR. Anderson, who only made nine appearances in the Championship last term for Blackpool due to a succession of injuries, has missed Blues’ last seven games.
George Hall :
Hamstring (Sustained August 29)
The talented teen from Birmingham City suffered another injury when he made his first start in over four months on August 29, the day of the Carabao Cup second round defeat to Cardiff City. It was Hall’s first start since April 15, when Blues played Sunderland in the Championship. However, just before half-time, Hall pulled his hamstring, and he didn’t appear for the remainder of the match.
Tyler Roberts:
Sustained a calf injury on August 11.
Roberts played in the opening day match against Swansea City after finishing preseason, although having to deal with a groin complaint toward the conclusion of it. After 60 minutes, he was taken out and rested for the Carabao Cup matchup against Cheltenham Town.
Alfie Chang’s
Injury was a sustained ACL to his knee on August 22.
Chang sustained a significant knee injury on August 22 while training, meaning he will be out for a while. Under former manager John Eustace, the midfielder was a mainstay in Blues’ matchday lineups, providing backup to the midfield duo of Krystian Bielik and Ivan Sunjic. Chang is already exercising in the gym at the Blues training facility after undergoing surgery to repair his damaged ACL.
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