Wayne Rooney has had a nightmare begin to life within the Birmingham Metropolis dug-out, becoming a member of the membership as supervisor controversially already angered Blues followers however the performances on the pitch since he arrived have solely additional added gas to the hearth as to why the St Andrew’s lots did not need this appointment to undergo.
Rooney has picked up a dismal one win from his seven video games in cost thus far, that solitary victory coming towards bottom-of-the-league Sheffield Wednesday as younger Welsh midfielder Jordan James bailed the Blues out with a late strike to win 2-1.
Final trip nonetheless, Birmingham had been again to their previous methods towards Blackburn Rovers as Sammie Szmodics had a discipline day up towards a hapless Blues defence to assist his staff to a 4-2 win.
The 38-year-old’s endurance might be sporting skinny already along with his underperforming group of gamers, Rooney barely two months into his new publish and feeling the warmth.
Sure gamers inside the set-up at St Andrew’s might be combating it out for his or her futures over the following few matches in a bid to impress their under-fire supervisor, with the January switch window now looming massive if they do not buck their concepts up.
Listed below are three gamers that might be having sleepless nights about their fast Birmingham futures…
1
Scott Hogan
Into his fifth successive season now as a Birmingham participant, Scott Hogan has failed to essentially get going this marketing campaign for the Blues up high.
A relentless first staff presence underneath earlier supervisor John Eustace in the direction of the beginning of the season, Hogan’s minutes have been considerably lower in latest weeks and for good motive.
Scoring a formidable ten targets final season for the Blues within the second tier, Hogan solely has two targets from 16 appearances in all competitions this time round.
The 31-year-old’s as soon as concrete first-team spot has now been taken by Fulham loanee Jay Stansfield just lately, the 21-year-old providing Rooney’s Blues a extra cell and prolific choice in assault – Stansfield scoring 5 occasions this season within the league, while Hogan has to make do along with his one paltry objective.
Hogan will preserve battling it out to displace Stansfield – the ageing attacker did come off the bench towards Blackburn to help Siriki Dembele’s second of the sport – however he might be going through a shedding battle towards a ahead ten years youthful than him.
2
Oliver Burke
On mortgage at St Andrew’s for the season from guardian membership Werder Bremen, there will be a temptation on Birmingham’s finish to chop Oliver Burke’s deal quick this January if he would not step on top of things quickly.
Scoring 4 occasions and aiding an additional three targets for Millwall final season in one other short-term swap from Germany, Burke hasn’t been in a position to replicate this way when taking part in on the Den for his new facet.
The Scotsman has been a passenger thus far at St Andrew’s when on the pitch, nameless going ahead with zero targets or assists from 13 second-tier appearances.
The 26-year-old might want to present his supervisor that he is worthy of first-team possibilities earlier than the switch window reopens, or he might be packing his luggage again to Bremen early.
3
Gary Gardner
Very similar to Hogan, Gary Gardner has change into part of the St Andrew’s furnishings with 174 appearances amassed for the Blues during the last six seasons.
However, it does really feel as if the 31-year-old might be moved on from Birmingham within the not-so-distant future regardless of this long-standing connection after a forgettable season up to now.
Solely beginning one recreation thus far this season, as per Sofascore, Gardner’s spot within the first-team has now been crammed by the likes of Jordan James and Krystian Bielik who supply extra verve and dedication than the Birmingham quantity 20 can muster up.
When he’s launched off the bench, the out-of-sorts midfielder barely makes a long-lasting affect. Substituted on versus Blackburn final trip, Gardner may solely handle a dire two touches of the ball from a 13-minute spell on the pitch.
Gardner’s profession is at risk of winding down with a whimper if he cannot present to Rooney why he is deserving of first staff alternatives within the weeks to return, needing to point out some extra combat and vitality to interrupt again into the beginning eleven.