Chris Davies predicted ‘a quiet window’ for Birmingham City this month but the landscape is ever-changing.

When the Blues manager made that prediction he had Lee Buchanan at his disposal, he now doesn’t have that luxury after the left-back was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury. Davies has already hinted that Blues might need to replace Buchanan.

“Possibly, yes,” he told BirminghamLive last week. “My thinking was always to have a look how we got through Christmas with injuries and stuff but we are at this moment in time assessing where the squad is at and whether we need to bring in one or two to help the players. That’s something that we are looking at.”

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A short-term loan to provide cover to Alex Cochrane could suit Blues better than a permanent purchase in a position they weren’t planning to strengthen two weeks ago.

They have always intended to strengthen at centre-back and Phil Neumann is their preferred target. The question is whether Blues can bag Neumann now, or whether they have to wait until his contract at Hannover expires in the summer. Hannover have just appointed a new manager and Neumann featured in their first mid-season friendly on Monday, suggesting they aren’t overly keen on losing one of their best players this month.

If Blues don’t sign Neumann this month then it could leave Dion Sanderson in a difficult position. Blues will listen to offers for Sanderson but Davies doesn’t want to leave himself short. The ideal scenario would see Neumann join now and Sanderson moved on, allowing Davies to bed the German into his way of playing before next season.

Another possible exit is Alfons Sampsted, although it’s easier said than done with an international loan. All parties would have to agree and another move would have to be lined up for Sampsted if FC Twente don't want him back.

Iceland international Sampsted has only played 12 games for Blues and his only start came against Fulham’s under-21s in the Vertu Trophy. Sampsted is one of four players who haven’t started a league game for Blues this season, the others being Lukas Jutkiewicz, Scott Wright and Ayumu Yokoyama.

Sampsted is effectively fourth choice right-back at Blues now with Krystian Bielik, Ethan Laird and Taylor Gardner-Hickman all preferred to the Icelandic.

Davies will undoubtedly be pondering signing a new winger. Blues’ wide men have fallen by the wayside in recent months with Emil Hansson, Scott Wright and Keshi Anderson all struck down by injuries. Hansson and Anderson, who was among Blues’ most in-form players in December, are currently out injured.

Ayumu Yokoyama hasn’t yet earned Davies’ trust either, so another winger could be the wildcard signing transfer windows often throw up.

Blues must also decide what to do with Romelle Donovan. The prodigiously talented youngster has returned to Blues after a disappointing loan spell at Burton Albion where he made only nine appearances. A loan to a League Two side which isn’t embroiled in a relegation battle might suit Donovan better if none of his Premier League suitors come calling this month.