Birmingham City Face Fresh Injury Concern as Tomoki Iwata Suffers Hip Problem
Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has delivered what he described as a "nasty" fitness update following his side's 2-0 Championship victory away at Oxford United, with key player Tomoki Iwata sustaining a concerning hip injury during the match.
Iwata Forced Off During Oxford United Clash
The Japanese international, who has been a consistent presence in the Blues' lineup this season, was forced to leave the pitch after 65 minutes at the Kassam Stadium. Iwata had previously started and completed every minute of Birmingham City's last eleven Championship fixtures, highlighting his importance to Davies' defensive plans.
Speaking after the match, Davies provided details on the injury: "Tomoki has got quite a nasty bang on to his bone in the hip - it has spasmed up a little bit. I would be hopeful that's not a long-term problem but we will have to see tomorrow."
Adaptable Defender's Absence Creates Selection Headache
Iwata's versatility has been particularly valuable to Birmingham City this campaign, with the former Celtic player seamlessly transitioning from his natural central midfield role to operate effectively at right back. His potential absence comes at a challenging time for the Blues, who already have fellow full-back Ethan Laird sidelined through injury.
This leaves Davies with limited defensive options, with Kai Wagner currently holding the left-back position and Bright Osayi-Samuel emerging as the most likely replacement should Iwata fail to recover in time. Osayi-Samuel made his first Birmingham City appearance since December 9th when he replaced the injured Iwata, having recently returned from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Implications for Upcoming Leicester City Fixture
The timing of this injury presents a significant concern for Birmingham City's preparations for their next Championship encounter, a home fixture against promotion-chasing Leicester City scheduled for next weekend. Davies now faces the prospect of entering that crucial match with just two recognised full-backs available for selection.
Medical staff at Birmingham City will conduct further assessments on Iwata's condition throughout the coming days, with the club and supporters anxiously awaiting news on the severity of the hip problem. The defender's recovery timeline remains uncertain, though Davies has expressed cautious optimism that the issue might not represent a long-term setback for the influential player.
