Alfie Chang gesture revealed after Birmingham City man plays first game in 522 days
Alfie Chang received a round of applause in the Birmingham City dressing room after playing his first senior game in 522 days.
The midfielder played the final 20 minutes of Blues’ 2-1 win over Lincoln City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday after a long spell on the sidelines with a knee injury. It was Chang’s first appearance for Blues since he played in a Carabao Cup victory at Cheltenham Town on August 8, 2023.
“Seventeen months out… he got a round of applause (in the dressing room),” said Chris Davies. “That long lonely road of being injured is tough and I noticed straight away when I came to the club that he was in the gym first thing in the morning. Everyone speaks so highly of his attitude and his character.
“To get back on the pitch for 20 minutes or half an hour was really good and hopefully he can build on that now.”
Chang conceded a penalty in stoppage time that allowed Lincoln to reduce the arrears at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. Davies had some sympathy with the 22-year-old.
He said: “Their player was running away from goal and tripped over him. If there’s VAR I don’t think that’s given because Alfie has got the ball and their player is running back and fell over him. Obviously if you go to ground, you give the referee a decision to make. There were a few things again that confused me.”
What should Blues do with Chang now? Let us know HERE
READ MORE: Relive the biggest upsets from the World’s greatest domestic cup competition
