Emil Hansson has been given assurances after injury-hit Birmingham City start
Emil Hansson has already proved himself to Chris Davies, despite missing 18 games through injury in a frustrating first season at Birmingham City.
Davies has assured Hansson, a summer signing from Eredivisie side Heracles, that he has nothing to prove upon his return. Hansson, 26, made nine league starts and was a mainstay in the line-up when Blues recorded seven straight League One wins at the beginning of the season.
One goal and one assist in 17 appearances across all competitions isn’t a patch on what Hansson managed in his final two seasons with Heracles, where he recorded 46 goal contributions, but the Swede has proved himself to be a reliable cog in Davies’ system.
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Hansson is still a little while away making his second comeback of the season, but he at least doesn't have to convince Davies of his importance to the cause.
Reflecting on Hansson’s struggles, Davies said: “It is very frustrating on Emil’s part, it’s been stop-start and that’s the last thing you want. He got in the team and stayed in the team, and was a key player in the early run of the season, then he picked the injury up and re-injured so it has been frustrating. I can sense he’s frustrated and wants to get going again.
“Hopefully once he gets back from this he can finish the season strongly. He was a player that came back and was having to build his fitness in games, rather than having the luxury of a two-week training block that you would ideally want, and he ended up reinjuring. That can happen but it’s frustrating for him.
“The good thing is that he’s proven that he’s been a key part of the team at the start of the season, so it’s not like he’s got that to prove. We know what we can do so he’s just got to get back fit and do it again.”
