Chris Davies gives Paik and Willumsson updates as Birmingham City pair learn injury fate
Willum Willumsson could bolster Birmingham City’s squad for the FA Cup fourth round tie against Newcastle United.
Iceland international Willumsson has missed Blues’ last six games through an injury sustained late in the victory over Lincoln City in the last round. The 26-year-old has returned to the training pitches and might come into Chris Davies’ thinking for the Magpies.
Davies has, however, ruled out key midfielder Paik Seung-ho and there is still no return date for Swedish winger Emil Hansson.
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Giving an update on Blues’ injury situation at his pre-Newcastle press conference, Davies said: “Willum Willumsson is involved having been out for a few weeks. Paik is still not quite ready, Emil Hansson is still not quite ready, outside of that I think we’re as we were.”
Willumsson has been one of Blues’ most productive attackers this season with six goals and eight assists from 25 appearances. The former Go Ahead Eagles playmaker scored Blues’ winner in the first round victory over Sutton United.
Davies is expected to go strong in the hope of causing an upset and has a quandary over his two goalkeepers. Ryan Allsop is Blues’ undisputed number one and has kept 13 clean sheets in 25 matches, but Bailey Peacock-Farrell has started in the last two FA Cup wins and kept goal in the Vertu Trophy win at Stevenage in midweek.
“There is a decision to make, unfortunately I can’t tell you which way it’s going to go,” said Davies. “As I’ve always said, they are two really strong goalkeepers and we are lucky to have them both. You’ll see tomorrow when the team is named which one is in goal.”
