Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has delivered a concerning update on the fitness of key striker Jay Stansfield, casting significant doubt over his availability for this weekend's vital Championship fixture.
Stansfield a major doubt for Coventry clash
Jay Stansfield remains a major doubt for Birmingham City's upcoming match against Coventry City this Sunday. The forward missed the Blues' disappointing 3-0 defeat away at Watford on New Year's Day due to a dead leg sustained in the previous match against Southampton.
Head coach Chris Davies admitted the situation is "a little bit uncertain" when speaking to Birmingham Live. "We missed his energy," Davies stated. "He got a knock, unfortunately, and was unable to be anywhere near available for the bench. We will have to see how he is in the next 48 hours."
Creative void exposed in Watford defeat
The absence of Stansfield was keenly felt during the loss at Vicarage Road, where Birmingham managed just five shots with only two on target. The team displayed a notable lack of creativity and clinical edge without their star attacker.
Although Stansfield is currently on a run of eight games without finding the net, his importance to the side remains undiminished. His energy and presence are consistently missed whenever he is unavailable from the squad.
Pressure mounts on Davies amid poor run
The fixture against league leaders Coventry takes on added significance with increasing pressure on manager Chris Davies. Despite breaking the EFL points record in the previous campaign, Davies faces growing scrutiny after a difficult festive period.
Birmingham have failed to win any of their last seven matches, with their most recent victory dating back to a 1st December home win against Watford. This poor run of form has led to understandable frustration among supporters, with many beginning to lose patience with the former Tottenham Hotspur assistant manager.
While the club's hierarchy are unlikely to make rash decisions given Davies's achievements last season, the possibility of a managerial change will increase if results do not improve soon. The upcoming schedule offers little respite, with an FA Cup trip to Cambridge United and Championship visits to Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday following the Coventry match.
Davies now faces a delicate balancing act with Stansfield's fitness. With time ticking before Sunday's lunchtime kick-off, the manager must weigh the risk of rushing his key player back against the clear need for his qualities in a must-not-lose encounter.
