NEWS UPDATES: Birmingham City selection dilemmas decided as Chris Davies changes winning XI

Due to the sheer size of Blues’ squad and its strength-in-depth, Davies has some selection dilemmas going into the meeting with Orient. Dion Sanderson returns from suspension and could break up Christoph Klarer’s partnership with Krystian Bielik.

Team news

With Sanderson back in contention, Lee Buchanan and Alfie Chang are the only confirmed absentees for Blues. Iceland international Willum Willumsson is expected to be fit after being replaced at Wycombe due to a head injury.

“He’s OK,” Davies said at his pre-Orient press conference on Thursday. “He’s going through the protocols that he needs to medically. Each day it’s better. He has been doing what he needs to do and I would expect him to be available for the game at the weekend.”

Check out our writers’ predicted Blues XIs for Orient…

Alex Dicken

There are three dilemmas in my eyes and they all exist in the positions behind centre-forward Alfie May. After two excellent displays against Reading and Charlton, Keshi Anderson was slightly disappointing at Wycombe with Koji Miyoshi more effective off the bench.

Emil Hansson wasn’t at his best on the opposite flank either and Ayumu Yokoyama had an instant impact to set up Luke Harris. Harris’ position as the number 10 would be nailed on if Willum Willumsson hadn’t made such an impact as a substitute.

There is a theory that Miyoshi is better utilised as a substitute away from home, hence why he only started 10 of the club’s 23 away matches in the Championship last term, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Anderson get the nod on the right. Hansson should start again on the left.

It would be harsh to leave Harris out but Willumsson has been signed to play behind May and looked superb off the bench at Adams Park. Blues will want their big money signing from Go Ahead Eagles to find his rhythm.

(4-2-3-1): Peacock-Farrell; Laird, Klarer, Bielik, Cochrane; Paik, Leonard; Anderson, Willumsson, Hansson; May

Brian Dick

Davies faces arguably the most telling selection quandary of his short Blues tenure, whether to bring back last year’s captain Dion Sanderson after he completed his one-match ban for his red card at Charlton Athletic. Sanderson will be hoping to dislodge Christoph Klarer who made his full debut at Wycombe.

On one hand Blues spent heavily on Klarer and it felt only a matter of time before a space in the back four opened up for him to claim. On the other the Austrian had one or two wobbly moments at Adams Park and is clearly not as mobile as Sanderson. However, for all the latter’s excellent pre-season, it is difficult to see him coming straight back into the team – he lost his spot and he’ll have to wait to regain it.