Birmingham City’s big week continues as they travel to the New York Stadium to face promotion hopefuls Rotherham United.
Blues won 3-1 against rivals Wrexham in front of a sold out crowd at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, and now they’re back on their travels. A trip up to South Yorkshire is what awaits them next, and the Millers like Birmingham, came down from the Championship last season.
Despite being one of the busiest clubs in the transfer window, it’s not gone to plan for Rotherham, who are currently 17th, and have won just once in six matches. They drew 2-2 with Burton Albion last week, and their only victory of the campaign was a 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town at the end of August.
Birmingham have had a day less to prepare for the match having been up front and centre on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football offering, and that’s meant less time to recover for those with injuries. Here’s the latest injury news from both camps ahead of kick-off.
Birmingham City team news
Lee Buchanan was due to start training around this time, but a return to the pitch might not happen until the end of the month. A calf injury suffered at the end of July is what has had Buchanan sidelined.
Neither Ethan Laird nor Luke Harris featured on Monday, and won’t do for the next month at least. Laird suffered an ankle injury in the 2-1 win against Wigan Athletic, and is expected to be out for the next few weeks at least according to Birmingham Live.
Harris is another player dealing with an ankle injury, and suffered his in the same game as Laird. He was called up for international duty by Wales to represent their under-21s team but had to withdraw. He’s expected to miss more than a month of action, but thankfully Birmingham have strength in depth in his position.
Alfie Chang has been out for more than a year with a knee injury. He wasn’t named in Birmingham’s squad list that was submitted to the EFL, but they do have a spot should they wish to include him.
Former club captain Dion Sanderson isn’t expected to be available for the trip to Yorkshire either. He was missing through suspension after picking up a red card, but a foot injury has had him sidelined for the last few weeks, and he’s not expected to be back imminently either.
Krystian Bielik is to miss the match through suspension. He picked up two yellow cards in quick succession in the latter stages of the win against Wrexham, and as a result will miss out with a one-game ban.
Out: Alfie Chang, Dion Sanderson, Ethan Laird, Krystian Bielik, Lee Buchanan, and Luke Harris.
Rotherham United team news
Shaun McWilliams was missing against Burton Albion last week, but that was down to a selection decision. He watched on from the stands as the Millers were held to a 2-2 draw by the Brewers at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
“It was just about getting the balance right on the bench because we know Alex can cover any position in the middle of the park,” said assistant manager Paul Raynor to the Rotherham Advertiser.
Jack Holmes, Zak Jules and midfielder Liam Kelly also played no part against Burton. Kelly was the only player out of the trio that missed out through injury after suffering a groin strain a week prior.
Summer signing Sean Raggett was named on the bench, having missed out six games through a knee injury. Jules missed out because Raggett was ready to make a return.
Andre Green is ‘back on the grass’ and the hope is from Steve Evans is that he returns around October or November. The former Aston Villa attacker hasn’t played for the Millers since the middle of October 2023, having ruptured his Achilles tendon.
Jake Hull wasn’t included in Rotherham’s squad listed to the EFL and is currently recovering from an ankle injury. He will be sent out on loan to a non-league club when he recovers.
Out: Andre Green, and Jake Hull. Doubt: Liam Kelly.
