Blues in need of specialist help for Ivan over injury
BLUES are once again in limbo over the fitness of Spanish winger Ivan Sanchez.
The 29-year-old has played only two Championship matches this season as he has been laboured by a pelvic issue ever since the end of the last campaign.
He had an operation to try to solve the problem in September and was ruled out for the best part of two months.
He returned to the substitutes bench for the games against Huddersfield, Swansea and Middlesbrough before complaining of recurring pain.
And having missed the last three matches, Blues have taken the decision to send the former Elche man back to a specialist to see if they can get to the bottom of the situation. Until Blues have had the result of that consultation they will
not know when Sanchez will be able to resume a Championship career that started well last season.
The diminutive attacker was one of the very few highlights of Aitor Karanka’s ill-fated tenure, although he fell down the pecking order under Lee Bowyer towards the end of last season.
Indeed, he has started only one of Bowyer’s 28 Championship matches in charge of Blues and has been restricted to only eight appearances under the 44-year-old.
He arrived on a free transfer in the summer of 2020 and has 18 months left on his contract, with the club holding the option of a fourth season.
Sanchez missed Tuesday night’s draw at Coventry, as did Gary Gardner who was sent off in the 2-0 loss at Hull on Saturday.
That was the midfielder’s second red card of the season and he will miss four matches.