Krystian Bielik and Lee Myung-jae in left-field Birmingham City XI predicted for Cambridge clash
Chris Davies will have to shuffle his Birmingham City pack when Cambridge United come to town on Tuesday (7.45pm kick-off).
Less than 72 hours after the final whistle blew in Blues’ thrilling FA Cup tie with Newcastle United, Cambridge will visit St Andrew’s hoping to upset the form book. The U’s, who are managed by ex-Blues boss Garry Monk, are bottom of the League One table.
A victory for Blues would see them move seven points clear at the top with a game-in-hand, but Davies must rotate accordingly with big matches against Charlton and Bradford just around the corner.
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Ryan Allsop will return in goal and the likelihood is that Christoph Klarer and Ben Davies will continue in front of him. It is at full-back where Blues could make alterations. Ethan Laird could be given a breather after an all-action performance on Saturday to accommodate the return of skipper Krystian Bielik.
There is a question as to whether Bielik will play in midfield due to Blues’ injury issues in that position, but Davies views him primarily as a defender. Bielik’s inclusion in defence would allow Davies to draft in new signing Lee Myung-jae at left-back and give him an attacking brief. Now seems like a good time to rest Alex Cochrane.
Tomoki Iwata’s plus one is likely to be Kieran Dowell after the way he played in a deeper midfield position at Stevenage last week. Davies will be eager to get Willum Willumsson back in the team but the right-wing role won’t suit the Icelandic with Bielik at right-back. Willumsson needs a runner like Laird or compatriot Alfons Sampsted and should therefore play in his preferred number 10 position instead.
That leaves Keshi Anderson to play wide on the right, Jay Stansfield to invert off the left and a choice between Alfie May and Lyndon Dykes up top. May might be the man on this occasion despite only starting one of Blues' last four matches.
Predicted Blues line-up for Cambridge…
(4-2-3-1): Allsop; Bielik, Klarer, Davies, Lee; Iwata, Dowell; Anderson, Willumsson, Stansfield; May
