4-3-3 LINE UP: Birmingham City released strong XI vs Reading opener as Klarer and Hansson out, Dembele in

The League One kick-off is just days away and the vast majority of Birmingham City’s starting XI appears to be set in stone.

Reading visit the revamped St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Saturday evening (5:30pm kick-off) to begin Blues’ first season in the third tier in three decades. Chris Davies’ side start the campaign as favourites for promotion after making nine summer signings.

Several of those signings will start on the opening night including goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell who has edged out Ryan Allsop. Davies has made it apparent in the last two weeks that Peacock-Farrell is first choice and the goalkeeper played the full 90 minutes of friendly victories over Walsall and West Bromwich Albion.

In front of Peacock-Farrell, a defence of Ethan Laird, Dion Sanderson, Krystian Bielik and Alex Cochrane seems likely. New Blues captain Bielik suffered a shoulder injury against Albion but he has reassured fans that it’s ‘nothing serious’.

Bielik’s availability would mean Christoph Klarer has to make do with a place on the bench. The Austrian provided a goal and an assist against Albion, as well as impressing Davies with his passing, but Sanderson and Bielik have the shirts at present.

Paik Seung-ho and Jordan James, who remains with the club despite a number of clubs interested in his signature, are expected to be the midfield axis. Marc Leonard caught the eye with a cameo against Albion and is breathing down James’ neck.

Koji Miyoshi has the position on the right sewn up and Willum Willumsson looks certain to start as the number 10 behind striker Alfie May. The question mark in attack centres around the left wing position: will it be Siriki Dembele or Emil Hansson?

Dembele appears to have won over Davies and jumped ahead of Hansson in the pecking order. Speaking after the win over Albion, Davies said: “I was keen to work with him when I came in and see him close up to see what I could do with him. I have been really impressed.

“The fundamental thing for all the wingers and all the attacking players is they are the first line of our defence so they need to work hard defensively. If they can do that, it’s about what they can do with the ball. With the ball, he can do some pretty special things.

“It’s important that we feed him at the right times and give him the opportunities to show what he can do. I have been pleased with him, he just needs to keep working hard. Emil Hansson is also a very good left winger who works hard and has quality. Competition for places is what I want.”