Birmingham injury news
As Birmingham City approaches the end of the Championship season with only two games left, their chances of survival remain precarious. Gary Rowett’s hopes are further dampened by an unfortunate injury concern ahead of their pivotal match against Huddersfield Town.
Birmingham injury news
After stepping in for Tony Mowbray in March due to Mowbray’s medical issues, Gary Rowett has been entrusted with the responsibility of guiding Birmingham to safety.
However, it has been a challenging endeavor. In his six games in charge so far, Rowett has managed only two wins, experienced three defeats, and settled for one draw. Consequently, Birmingham’s safety is no longer assured, given their precarious standing in the league.
The upcoming clash between Birmingham and Huddersfield on Saturday holds immense significance for Gary Rowett and his team. A victory could propel them ahead of Huddersfield and potentially towards safety, provided other results in the league align favorably. Conversely, a loss could widen the gap to safety by at least four points by the weekend’s conclusion.
Adding to the challenge is Lukas Jutkiewicz’s uncertain availability. Despite initial hopes of his participation in the final two Championship matches, his status remains in doubt. Rowett shared this update, highlighting Jutkiewicz’s willingness to support the team regardless of his fitness: “I know Jukey really well; he is definitely one who can help us both on and off the pitch.
His commitment to travel with the team, even if he’s unable to play, speaks volumes about him. Jukey is often the player we turn to in challenging situations.”
“We’re hoping that he can recover. You’ll see him limping around but he’ll still want to play. I’m hoping he can still play some part of the season but I don’t want to put too much pressure on that with the injury that he had.”
“Physical” Jutkiewicz is a big miss
Experience is often crucial in relegation battles, and at 35 years old, Jutkiewicz brings a wealth of it to Birmingham City. If Rowett were to rely on anyone in such a crucial situation, Jutkiewicz would undoubtedly be near the top of his list. However, Birmingham must now navigate the challenge of avoiding relegation without their veteran forward, unless he miraculously returns in time to help against the odds.
Rowett worked with the forward in his previous spell at Birmingham and was full of praise for Jutkiewicz, telling Birmingham Mail in 2016: “The second goal a good ball into the box, when Jukey is getting the ball crossed into him and he’s in the middle of the goal not many teams are going to be able to stop him.
“That’s a real strong start for him in his Blues career, four goals in something like eight or nine appearances. He was a real handful and physical presence at times.”