‘As you were’ at Blues as Lee starts planning
BIRMINGHAM City’s players have returned from their summer break as preparations for the 2022/2023 Championship campaign begin in earnest.
The senior squad congregated at Coventry University for two days of pre-season testing, the second of which took place at Wast Hills yesterday.
It is the first sighting of players who will have no doubt been awaiting news of the club’s impending takeover – and whatever fallout there is in terms of management staff and new recruits.
As things stand it’s very much a case of ‘as you were’ with Lee Bowyer the head coach but without Mark Kennedy as his No.2 after the Irishman left to take over at Lincoln.
Here’s what stood out as the players were put through their paces.
n No new faces
As well as the five loanees who returned to their parent clubs at the end of last season, Blues lost three senior players as their contracts came to an end and Kristian Pedersen, Jeremie Bela and Connal Trueman all bade farewell to the club. None of them have been replaced so far.
Blues have been linked with a couple of goalkeepers as their search for depth behind, or a challenger to, Neil Etheridge continues.
Pedersen’s departure leaves a hole at left-back, while there is only one recognised senior right-back.
They could use more options across the defence while the attacking positions require freshening up.
Technical director Craig Gardner has a list of possible targets but the current stasis cannot be helping the recruitment process.
It is also worth noting that more than half of the Championship is yet to make a single signing.
n
Returning loan players
Harlee Dean was seen working on a Wattbike, back with the team-mates with whom he has spent all but the previous six months of his five-year Blues career.
Dean was sent on loan to Sheffield Wednesday in the last transfer window and continues to be linked with a return to Hillsborough.
He still has another year left on his contract at St Andrew’s.
Sam Cosgrove was also back after spending the entire 2021/2022 campaign on loan, first with Shrewsbury and then AFC Wimbledon.
The striker, who is yet to make an impact since arriving from Aberdeen in January 2021, is under contract until the summer of 2024.
At the very least both players will want a good pre-season for whatever opportunities/challenges come their way in the remainder of the summer.
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Young strikers
Much has been said about the age of Blues’ striking options, with Lukas Jutkiewicz at 33 years old, Troy Deeney set to celebrate his 34th birthday later this month and the group’s spring chicken, Scott Hogan, now 30.
However, there were a couple of aspiring youngsters, with Odin Bailey and Josh Andrews hoping to build on their experiences of last season.
Andrews was given a good taste of senior football and although he had some injury interruptions at Rochdale, he still made 16 appearances in League Two and will be intent of kicking on.
At 6ft 6ins, a growing awareness of how to use his big frame, decent pace and a track record of scoring at Under23 level, if the 20-year-old could make the step up that would be a huge boost for the squad – and the academy.
Bailey returns after a decent campaign at Livingston, who were keen to sign him this summer.
He made 36 appearances for David Martindale’s side and after nearly a full season in League Two with Forest Green the year before, the 22-yearold’s senior career is up and running.
The challenge for him will be to prove he can continue his development at Championship level.
n Extra time
Not every senior player is back – certainly the likes of Hogan, Etheridge and Juninho Bacuna will be given extra time after their exploits with their respective countries.
Bacuna played for Curacao in their three 2022/23 CONCACAF Nations League games. Etheridge captained the Philippines in their AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign in Mongolia, while Hogan played for the Republic of Ireland against Scotland and Ukraine.
George Hall was also away with England’s Under-18s. Ivan Sanchez was the other notable absentee.