Birmingham City’s match against Norwich City on the last day of the season is a must-win if they want to have any hope of making it into the Championship the following season. Maybe a point would do it, but it would need a five-goal swing happening somewhere else. If they beat Norwich, the pulses of the sides above them in the table will start racing.
If you considered the recruitment and squad revamp that took place last summer to be a major undertaking, the upcoming months may bring back memories. Before this season, the Blues were quite busy and signed thirteen players, however considering how many players departed the team at the conclusion, those signings were essential.
Those that left during the previous campaign were Troy Deeney, George Friend, Harlee Dean, and Maxime Colin. Along with these players, Blues also parted ways with Sam Cosgrove, Jobe Bellingham, Tahith Chong, and other loanees such Reda Khadra, Auston Trusty, and Hannibal.
When Tony Mowbray returns, a whole new set of important decisions awaits him, along with CEO Garry Cook and technical director Craig Gardner. It is obvious that the club’s divisional standing will have a big impact on whether or not the Blues decide to extend the contracts of any of their unsigned players past this summer. In any case, with several senior performers’ contracts about to expire, there’s a chance to start over.
This summer’s contracts for senior keepers Neil Etheridge and John Ruddy expire. Ruddy joined on a free transfer the previous summer, and he has generally been a beneficial addition. With 88 outings under his belt, he has distanced himself from Etheridge, the Philippines international who has only featured in 13 games over the past two years. He was hospitalised in 2021 as a result of catching COVID-19.
Right now, Marc Roberts is the Blues’ second-longest serving member of the team. He joined the team in 2017 after moving from Barnsley, and he is currently three games short of 200 appearances. He returned to action at Huddersfield on Saturday after suffering an injury in March, and he might play on the last day.
