Birmingham City have been dealt a significant blow after midfielder Paik Seung-ho sustained a worrying shoulder injury just moments into their Championship clash with Middlesbrough.
Early Exit at Riverside
The South Korean international landed awkwardly after challenging for an aerial ball in the very first minute of Saturday's match at The Riverside stadium. Paik required extensive on-field treatment from Birmingham's medical team before being forced off the pitch, casting immediate doubt over his availability.
Blues manager Chris Davies confirmed the severity of the incident post-match, revealing that Paik's shoulder had popped out during the fall. The player was visibly in considerable discomfort as he left the field.
International Duty Withdrawal
The timing proves particularly unfortunate for the 23-cap international, who has now been ruled out of South Korea's upcoming fixtures. Paik was scheduled to join his national team for matches against Bolivia and Ghana during the current international window.
The Korean Football Association issued an official statement on Monday confirming his withdrawal: "Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City) is excluded from this call-up due to an injury to his left shoulder."
Seo Min-woo of Gangwon FC has been named as Paik's replacement in the national squad, while the midfielder remains under assessment by Birmingham City's medical staff.
Manager's Concern and Next Steps
Chris Davies expressed both concern for the player and recognition of his importance to the team. "He's a massive player for us and hasn't been injured much at all," Davies stated. "To see him down like that was really unpleasant."
The Birmingham manager indicated that the full extent of the damage would become clearer in the coming days. "We'll see in the next few hours or days what the extent of that injury is," Davies added, emphasising the club's cautious approach to their key midfielder's recovery.
Birmingham City fans now face an anxious wait for further medical updates as the club navigates its first significant injury setback of the season.
