Birmingham City ran out 0-2 winners away at Bristol City yesterday afternoon.
Goals from summer signing Koji Miyoshi and Lukas Jutkiewicz, along with a sending off from Bristol City defender Rob Dickie, meant that the Blues continued their in unbeaten start to the season.
However, the win was slightly overshadowed by two injuries to two key players in right-back Ethan Laird and attacker Siriki Dembele.
Laird was forced off during the first half and replaced by goalscorer Miyoshi, and Dembele came off at half-time, failing to re-emerge for the second.
John Eustace on Ethan Laird and Siriki Dembele’s injuries
Speaking to the Birmingham Mail after the game last night, boss John Eustace confirmed that both had picked up muscle strains.
“Unfortunately Laird has a muscle strain,” Eustace said. “Dembele also has a muscle strain. Two really important players for us but it’s important that we keep growing and bringing the right players in.”
Both injuries are concerning but Laird’s is more so due to the limited options Birmingham currently have in that area. Birmingham’s only other right back is Marcel Oakley, but he is currently out, and centre-back Marc Roberts has been out so far this season with a calf injury.
Matthew Lowton has been training with Birmingham after he was released by Burnley at the end of last season, so if he comes in he can provide the defensive cover that Blues so desperately need at this moment in time.
Birmingham have been looking to bolster their attacking options too, after missing out on striker Sory Kaba last week.
Laird and Dembele join the ever-growing injury list along with Oakley, Roberts and both George Hall and summer signing Tyler Roberts, who are out with a calf and ankle injury repectively, and are not expected to be back in contention until mid September.
Birmingham’s next game is at home to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday afternoon, and if Blues win it could see them go to the top of the Championship table.