A MANAGER’S BEST FRIEND
George to bet the farm on a Blues revival
GEORGE FRIEND laughs when it is pointed out he recently ran for 90 minutes with a broken leg.
“Don’t underestimate farmers from Devon is what I say,” joked the Birmingham defender, who is fighting fit again after suffering a particularly unusual injury three weeks ago at Bristol City.
The left-back, who helped his team-mates to a valuable point and clean sheet at the City Ground, revealed: “To get technical, it was below the knee, the fibula head. I had a kick on that and there was a small crack, a fracture.
“The manager doesn’t like to go into detail when players are injured but now that I’m back fit I can play and I feel fine. I’ve had most injuries but t I’ I’ve never had hd one like lik that. th t It wasn’t too bad.”
Birmingham have missed Friend, who often refers to the family farming business, and the player has missed first-team action as he continues to settle into his new club as the first signing of boss Aitor Karanka (below).
They have renewed a partnership forged at Middlesbrough but it has not been easy with poor results and fans unhappy at the style of play.
Friend, 33, believes coronavirus is inf luencing results but still has faith in the team to put things right after this draw ended a run of three successive defeats, including a hammering by Boro.
“Covid football is a funny one,” he said.
“You look right at the top in the Premier League all the way down and everyone is finding their challenges, whether you are Man City,
Liverpool Li l or Exeter E t City, Cit everyone is finding it hard and we are no different.
“We are looking short term at the moment. And short term it is about finding consistency because we have strength and quality all over.”
The Blues star pointed to the conditions to explain a contest short on drama.
“People might not have realised how tough the conditions were,” he said. “There was a lack of quality at times but it was about having the response after the Boro game. We could have got the 1-0 away win we are were looking for.”
Forest have their problems, too. Supporters are not happy with one win in 10. Manager Chris Hughton said: “We needed to do more for that breakthrough, show a bit more on the ball and be a bit braver to get us into those positions.”
FOREST: Samba 8, Christie 7, Figueiredo 6, Worrall 7, Ribeiro 6, Yates 7, Sow 6 (Taylor 61, 5), Ameobi 5 (Knockaert 61, 5), Cafu 7, Mighten 6 (Lolley 68, 4), Grabban 6 BIRMINGHAM: Etheridge 8, Colin 7, Roberts 6, Dean 7, Friend 6, Sunjic 7, Clayton 6, Sanchez 7, Halilovic 6 (Gardner 46, 5), Bela 5, Hogan 6 (Jutkiewicz, 90)
MOTM
BRICE SAMBA (FOREST)