Krystian Bielik has been ruled out until after the international break due to a torn abdominal muscle. The Birmingham City ace suffered the injury a week ago, and interim manager Mark Venus does not expect him to play in any of the Blues’ next three matches.
Bielik isn’t the only Blues player out for this weekend’s crucial match against Millwall. Blues will travel to The Den for a relegation six-pointer without skipper Dion Sanderson and long-term absentee Alfie Chang.
Sanderson will serve the second of a three-game suspension for his red card against Southampton last Saturday. However, fellow centre-back Marc Roberts, who returned to training on Thursday, might strengthen the Blues’ defence.
Venus provided an injury update, stating: “Krystian is injured till after the internationals. We’ll reassess him after the internationals. Marc trained today. We have to watch how he reacts to training; hopefully, he will train again tomorrow and be ready for selection. He is on the practice field, which is wonderful.”
Alex Pritchard could start after excelling off the bench in the Blues’ previous two games. The January signing missed a month of play due to a calf injury before assisting Lukas Jutkiewicz’s equalising goal against Hull City on Tuesday.
“I hope he is (ready to start),” Venus stated. “We’ve tried to be cautious with these players. I believe the team has suffered from a lot of injuries this season for no special cause, but we have attempted to nurture some of them back.”
Here is the latest injury news before Blues’ trip to The Den…
Marc Roberts
Injury: Calf
Roberts has had calf issues throughout this season and Venus confirmed after the Southampton match that the 33-year-old centre-back was absent due to a ‘tight calf’. Venus says Roberts has a chance of featuring against Millwall having returned to training.
Possible return: Millwall (a), March 9
Krystian Bielik
Injury: Stomach
Bielik returned from a groin injury on the eve of the Southampton match only to tear a muscle in his stomach in training. Venus has ruled him out for ‘weeks’ so Blues are expecting to be without Bielik until after the international break.
Possible return: QPR (a), March 29
Alfie Chang
Injury: Knee
Chang sustained a serious ACL injury during a training session in August and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. The 21-year-old, who has since signed a new three-year contract, has been working with Blues’ physios in the gym and has started cycling to improve his fitness.
Possible return: TBC
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