Key man ‘Mr Blues’ Dee-lights Eustace
JOHN Eustace has highlighted Troy Deeney’s importance to Birmingham City and revealed the feedback he receives about the striker from opposition managers.
The 34-year-old has started 13 of Blues’ 16 league matches – and as he did at Blackburn on Saturday has come off the bench in the other three.
Indeed the only games he hasn’t started have been after short turnarounds and after struggling to make an impact under Lee Bowyer, Eustace has managed to tap into Deeney’s strengths.
Deeney’s fitness has also helped as he is already closing in on last season’s total of 15 Championship starts and the previous campaign’s tally of 14, which was curtailed by an Achilles injury.
But the Blues head coach is as happy with his former Watford teammate’s value off the field as he is on it and praised his levels so far this term.
“I think Troy has been good all the way through,” Eustace said.
“We have to remember Troy missed a large chunk of last season through injury, the season before that he was injured as well. We have given him a real good run of games and his performances have been excellent. It’s not just his performances, it’s what he does on the pitch as well, his experience, his know-how, the way he looks after the group. I think he has been vital in everything we have done since day one.
“He hasn’t surprised me, obviously I know him anyway, I know what he can bring and he has been top drawer.
“Even after the Burnley game the way Vincent Kompany and Craig Bellamy spoke about him was full testament to him as well, still saying he’s a top player, how they admire him and that he can still play at the top – especially in the Championship.
“He often gets picked out because he is performing well, managers don’t just say it if he has not, his performance levels have been excellent, he has been dominating centrehalves and the most important thing for me is he is leading on the pitch and looking after the rest of the group.
“I have always said he is Mr Birmingham City. He loves the club, he has been brought up in Birmingham and everything he does is for the good of the club.
“He does a lot of work with the community, he is a fantastic role model for everyone here and the club
are very fortunate to have him here.”
Deeney was rested at Ewood Park on Saturday but is expected to return to the starting line-up when Championship leaders QPR visit St Andrew’s on Friday night.
Meanwhile, QPR have question marks over three players as they prepare for a match that sees Eustace go against his former club.
The Championship leaders, who defeated Wigan Athletic 2-1 at the weekend, come to a venue where they have won on five of their last eight trips.
However, with games coming thick and fast they do not come without several doubts hanging over some key players – particularly the talismanic Chris Willock.
The midfielder has scored six times in nine games so far this season but has not played since coming off injured against Sheffield United three weeks ago. He remains a doubt, although head coach Michael Beale had pencilled in a St Andrew’s return.
“He has been out running and the plan was for him to be available for Birmingham or the game against Norwich. I won’t take any risks if he’s not ready for Birmingham, because we still have four games after that before the World Cup.”
Striker Tyler Roberts, on loan from Leeds, has also missed the last two and he too could be working his way back to a return.
Roberts trained just before the Wigan game but was not deemed ready and will be given this week to prove his availability.
However, Rangers might have to do without Stefan Johansen after the ever-present midfielder was forced off early on Saturday.