Birmingham City Receive Positive Kai Wagner Injury Update
Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has delivered encouraging news regarding defender Kai Wagner's shoulder injury, which initially appeared serious during Wednesday night's defeat to Millwall. Wagner was forced to leave the pitch in the second half after colliding with Millwall's Ryan Leonard, showing visible discomfort that raised immediate concerns about potential long-term damage.
Wagner's Injury Less Severe Than Feared
Speaking at his pre-Middlesbrough press conference on Friday, Davies revealed that medical assessments have shown Wagner's injury to be less serious than initially suspected. "Kai Wagner is better than we thought," Davies confirmed. "We were really concerned after the game that he'd done something quite serious to that shoulder but it seems to be just a heavy knock, very painful, not something that's going to keep him out for long."
The manager emphasized that this development represents significant positive news for the club, noting there appears to be no substantial damage to either Wagner's shoulder or collarbone. While the defender will require some recovery time, Davies indicated the absence would be relatively brief compared to initial fears.
Paik Seung-ho's Recovery Progress
In additional injury news, South Korean midfielder Paik Seung-ho continues to make steady progress in his own shoulder rehabilitation. Paik has opted to delay surgical intervention in hopes of contributing to Birmingham City's promotion campaign and representing his national team at the upcoming World Cup tournament this summer.
"Paik is doing modified training to build back up again," Davies explained. "Whether he will be right for this week we'll have to see. Paik is very stoic, he will try to push and do whatever he can, when others would still be in the treatment room."
Ethan Laird's Readiness Questioned
While Wagner's positive prognosis offers relief, Davies expressed reservations about Ethan Laird's immediate readiness to assume starting responsibilities at left-back. Laird has recently returned from a five-month hamstring injury absence, making substitute appearances against both Norwich City and Millwall in quick succession.
"Ethan is a bit behind," Davies admitted when questioned about Laird's potential to start. "He was out for five months and he never got under-21s football, he came straight back in and I've got him on the bench quite early and he came on for longer than we wanted to at Norwich."
The manager elaborated that Laird currently lacks the necessary fitness foundation for extended match participation, suggesting the defender would need additional training and substitute appearances before being ready for full starting duties. "Ethan hasn't built up a base, I would say, to really go for 60-70 minutes of a match," Davies noted. "Ethan is going to have to get that through a bit of training and the bench appearances, but within a couple of weeks he'll be ready to go."
Alternative Defensive Options
With Wagner sidelined and Laird not yet fully match-ready, Davies faces defensive selection decisions ahead of Birmingham City's upcoming fixtures. The manager's alternative options include:
- Left-footed centre-backs Jack Robinson and Jonathan Panzo
- The potential surprise recall of Lee Buchanan, who has been absent for fourteen months
These developments come as Birmingham City continues their campaign with important matches on the horizon, requiring careful management of both returning and recovering players to maintain competitive momentum throughout the season.
