Gary Rowett will be hoping for an injury boost for Birmingham City ahead of their must-win encounter against Rotherham United on Saturday. The Blues have been without Marc Roberts, Oliver Burke, and Lukas Jutkiewicz for all of Rowett’s games.
Rowett has been without defender Roberts, right winger Burke, and striker Jutkiewicz for his first five games in command owing to injuries. Veteran striker Jutkiewicz has been a major miss for the Blues, who have lacked physicality and punch in attack since his departure.
Jutkiewicz, the club captain, accompanied the squad to the games against QPR and Leicester. The 34-year-old was seen jogging across the pitch with a member of Blues’ backroom team before kick-off at the King Power Stadium, and will undoubtedly be
in Rotherham, whether he is fit to play or not.
In addition to the aforementioned trio, Alfie Chang is still rehabilitating from a long-standing knee injury. Here’s the latest squad news as the Blues begin another busy week of training…
Marc Roberts
injured his calf.
Roberts recently missed time with his third calf injury of the season before returning to the Blues’ defence versus Millwall a month ago. He started against Middlesbrough before succumbing to agony and hobbled off with a recurrence of his nagging injury.
Lucas Jutkiewicz
Injury: Knee
Jutkiewicz collapsed in the dying moments of Chelsea’s defeat to Watford before the international break. The veteran striker landed awkwardly after competing for an aerial ball and had to be replaced. He has been travelling to games to encourage his teammates and expects to play again this season.
Oliver Burke sustained a muscle-related injury.
Burke, a Werder Bremen loanee, was out of favour under the previous management, but he may have had a chance under Rowett, with whom he had worked at Millwall. Unfortunately for Burke, he has been sidelined with muscular difficulties, and Rowett doubts he will be able to play again this season.
Rowett remarked (March 27): “Burkey is out injured at the moment, and I don’t expect him to play much this season. When you go in, it’s nice to see familiar faces, but the guys who are available are the ones who will deliver us success.
Alfie Chang had a major ACL injury during a training session in August, and is anticipated to miss the rest of the season. The 21-year-old, who has since signed a new three-year contract, has been training with Blues physios in the gym and has begun cycling to boost his fitness.
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