Birmingham City find themselves in a very tricky position in the Championship table.
Blues are currently locked in a battle to avoid relegation to League One. They face a huge game in their attempts to do that on Tuesday, when they host Middlesbrough at St Andrew’s.
Going into that match, which is a game in hand on much of the division, they sit 21st in the table, just a point clear of the relegation.
That comes after a run of just one point from four games, since Tony Mowbray temporarily stepped back from his role as manager for medical reasons.
Mark Venus remains in interim charge of Birmingham City for now. Recent games have seen him forced to cope without some key players for various reasons.
Now, two who could provide the club with a major boost when they do return, have been identified.
Pundit discusses Dion Sanderson and Krystian Bielik
Two players who Birmingham City have had to do without recently, are Krystian Bielik and Dion Sanderson.
Bielik has not played for Blues in any of their last four games due to injury. Speaking last week, Venus suggested he will not be back until at least after the international break.
Sanderson meanwhile, has missed the last two games due to suspension, after his controversial sending off in the 4-3 defeat to Southampton. The defender will serve the last part of his ban during the Middlesbrough game.
Now, Sam Parkin believes that having the pair back will be a major boost for the club.
Speaking about Birmingham City and their battle to avoid relegation on the Championship Check-In Podcast, the former Luton Town and Swindon Town striker said:
“The squad, if you look at the 18 there is a bit more experience there and there will be dotted around the squad no doubt.
“I just think at the moment there’s quite a lot of players that are probably in quite an unusual situation. So we will see what happens. Clearly they want Bielik back, Sanderson has got one more game to serve, those two absolutely from a physical standpoint will improve you.”
Birmingham City need absent duo back
It will be a major boost for Birmingham City when they are able to get Sanderson and Bielik back in their side.
Both player have plenty of Championship experience, and proven quality in this division.
That will help guide the rest of the Blues side through what is an incredibly tough period at this moment in time.
The pair are both also solid options at centre back, to say the very least. With the duo absent and Kevin Long sold to Toronto last month, that is a position they have been short in recently.
Getting this duo back will therefore give Birmingham City some much needed reinforcements in that area of the park.
Indeed, having that presence will help them to reduce the goal threat they may face, putting them in a better position to pick up important results.
Of course, it seems as though Bielik may be out for some time yet. But the fact that Sanderson’s ban is almost over, will be a big relief for Birmingham City at least.