Birmingham City's line-up for Stevenage with new signings in revamped XI
Birmingham City could use all three of their new signings in the Vertu Trophy quarter-final against Stevenage if clearance arrives in time for South Korean left-back Lee Myung-jae.
Lee has joined Blues on a free transfer from Ulsan HD after helping the K-League club to three straight titles. He fills the left-back vacancy in Chris Davies’ squad created by Lee Buchanan’s season-ending injury and follows Grant Hanley and Kieran Dowell through the door in the winter transfer window.
If cleared to play, Lee could go into the team to face League One rivals Stevenage at the Lamex Stadium. Hanley is likely to get his first start too after two substitute appearances against Huddersfield and Rotherham. The former Norwich City captain will surely be joined by Blues skipper Krystian Bielik at centre-back. Alfons Sampsted could get a game at right-back after deputising in the middle of defence in the last round at Swindon.
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It will be interesting to see which of the goalkeepers Davies selects. Bailey Peacock-Farrell has become Blues’ cup keeper but with an FA Cup tie to come on Saturday, Davies might want to use Ryan Allsop in one game this week.
Marc Leonard and Taylor Gardner-Hickman are the most likely pairing in midfield and Davies has options in front of them. Scott Wright is due a start, as is Luke Harris and Dowell could continue on the right. Alfie May seems likely to start up front after two games on the bench.
A lot will depend on how Davies views Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Newcastle United. With a sell-out crowd expected and the chance to upset one of the Premier League’s form teams, Davies will surely want to select the XI which has carried Blues in League One recently.
Ethan Laird, Christoph Klarer, Ben Davies, Tomoki Iwata, Keshi Anderson and Jay Stansfield will be desperate to face Newcastle. With that in mind, Davies is expected to ring the changes versus Stevenage.
Potential XI for Stevenage...
(4-2-3-1): Peacock-Farrell; Sampsted, Hanley, Bielik, Lee; Leonard, Gardner-Hickman; Dowell, Harris, Wright; May
