Birmingham City could be without six players for Barnsley clash
The latest Birmingham City injury news as Chris Davies' side prepare to play Barnsley back at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park
Taylor Gardner-Hickman is due to re-join Birmingham City training next week after almost a month on the sidelines.
The versatile midfielder hasn't played for Blues since starting the 1-0 win over Lincoln City on March 8 and could return in the nick of time for Wembley.
Blues have two League One fixtures against Barnsley and Peterborough United before they meet the latter under the arch on Sunday, April 13 in the Vertu Trophy final.
“Taylor is close to training with the team again,” Chris Davies revealed at his pre-Barnsley press conference on Thursday. “That is scheduled for early next week so he’s pretty much there, more or less, but then you need to build up again."
Here is the rundown on Blues' injury absentees...
Emil Hansson
Injury: Unspecified
Hansson has now had three injuries in his first season at Blues. The first two kept him out for two months apiece, but Davies insists the Swede's season isn't over. Hansson's latest issue occurred in training before Blues' game against Bristol Rovers (April 2) and he now looks set to miss a chunk of games in the busy run-in.
Davies said: “Frustratingly for Emil and us, he picked up a bit of a knock in training the day before the game, so that’s disappointing.
“It’s not a season-ender, it will be a few weeks maximum. We’ll have to see how he goes in the next few days.”
Krystian Bielik
Injury: Unspecified
The defender was a surprise omission from the squad against Shrewsbury last weekend and Davies says Blues' medical team are 'managing a niggle'.
“Krystian Bielik has just been managing a niggle. It’s nothing major but it’s something we’re working with him on," Davies said (April 3).
Taylor Gardner-Hickman
Injury: Unspecified
Gardner-Hickman hasn't played in almost a month but he looked more sprightly at Blues' training ground on Thursday. Davies revealed at his pre-Barnsley press conference that Gardner-Hickman is due to resume training next week, which gives him a chance of featuring in the Vertu Trophy final at Wembley.
Scott Wright
Injury: Knee
Wright has undergone surgery on the knee injury he sustained at Reading on February 22 and Davies has ruled him out until the latter part of 2025.
“He’s had his surgery and his early rehab has gone well,” said Davies. “I don’t know a definitive timeframe, I know he’s had that knee done before as well so I think that extends it slightly.
“These days it’s six or seven months but I think it will be a bit longer because of the background to that knee. It’s going to be right towards the end of the year I would say.”
Lyndon Dykes
Injury: Calf
Dykes pulled up on the run during Blues' 0-0 draw with Reading and hobbled off the field. The Scotland international appeared to be in a lot of discomfort and isn't likely to be fit for the Vertu Trophy final at Wembley on April 13.
Davies said (February 25): “Hopefully we can see him before the end of this season. I would call it a medium term injury, not a quick turnaround but there’s definitely a route back for him to get back before the end of this season and contribute. We’ll miss him.
“I don’t know whether the cup final might come too soon. I’m not qualified to give that definitive answer but it sounds like the cup final might come too soon. Even after the cup final, there’s probably five league games so can he get back and help us in that period would be the question.”
Dykes is confined to the gym at Blues' training ground and is still wearing a protective boot.
Lee Buchanan
Injury: Knee
Buchanan suffered a serious knee injury during the draw with Blackpool and will miss the remainder of the season. Davies said: “Lee’s injury is quite severe as everyone would have guessed. He will be out for a considerable amount of time, as you probably saw from the pictures, and he won’t be with us for this season absolutely.”
The left-back is back on his feet at Blues' training ground and in the early stages of his rehab.