Chris Davies speaks out on absent Birmingham City player - January transfer looks unlikely | OneFootball

Willum Willumsson is back in contention for Blues after a three-month absence

Birmingham City have been handed a timely boost as Icelandic midfielder, Willum Willumsson returned to training at the club's EPIC facilities this week ahead of a crucial fixture against Charlton Athletic at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

And head coach Chris Davies has also quashed any lingering speculation over the playmaker's future in the West Midlands after he was sidelined for a three-month period, although the in-depth details of his absence remain unspecified at present.

Blues are hoping to return to winning ways against the out-of-form Addicks on Saturday afternoon and continue a remarkable run of home form under the 40-year-old's management, although the same cannot be said about their performance levels and results away from the West Midlands.

Indeed, Birmingham's away woes were compounded twice within a three-day stretch in the Championship's latest three-game week, initially succumbing to a 3-1 defeat against a resurgent Southampton side - buoyed by the permanent appointment of Tonda Eckert - at St Mary's on Saturday, before producing what many Bluenoses have labelled as their side's worst performance of the campaign thus far against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night.

It looked as though their below-par showing was to be somewhat forgotten about when Patrick Roberts netted a 93rd-minute equaliser in response to Jimmy Dunne's first-half opener at Loftus Road, before James Beadle was beaten by Kieran Morgan's fizzing strike in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to see a vital point slip away from Blues' grasp.

As such, potential team selection has been debated at length heading into Saturday's clash against the South London side, with Davies fairly light on numbers in certain departments.

However, his side, who have netted 14 goals in the past four games in B9, could welcome the aforementioned Willumsson back into the fold should all go according to script from the 27-year-old's perspective.

Chris Davies outlines Birmingham City, Willum Willumsson plan amid major injury boost

Willumsson was one of a raft of players who were recruited by Birmingham ahead of their record-breaking title success in League One last term, with the 18-time international moving to the Second City from Eredivisie outfit, Go Ahead Eagles, for a reported £3.5m sum on a four-year contract.

During the initial months which followed his switch from mainland Europe, the playmaker was one of Blues' most influential players as they began to set the tone for what was to come in the form of the EFL's all-time points total of 111 by winning 34 out of 46 league games.

Willumsson accumulated a tally of six goals and as many assists across 41 league appearances. However, only one of those strikes would come after New Year's Day, whilst Davies recruited Kieran Dowell on loan from Rangers to feature in an attack which utilised two 'number 10s' behind the main striker.

The former Tottenham Hotspur assistant has since tweaked his plans, as evidenced by the form and roles of Roberts and Demarai Gray on either flank, with Jay Stansfield recently reverting to being used as a '10' behind Marvin Ducksch.

Willumsson has made three league appearances so far this season, which included starts against Oxford United and Leicester City, whilst also posting an assist for Stansfield against Sheffield United in the EFL Cup.

After suffering an initial setback, Football League World exclusively revealed that Willumsson was recovering quicker than expected, and that has proven to be the case, with Birmingham Live reporting that he could make Davies' squad against Charlton on Saturday, whilst the Blues boss revealed that he will still have a part to play this season, rather than potentially leaving.

“I do feel there’s a role for Willum to play,” Davies said.

“He’s a different type of number 10, he gets between the lines and in the small spaces. He has the intricacy to turn and thread a ball through.

“There was one he threaded through to Alfie May against Wigan really early last season, there was another away at Rotherham for Jay and in these moments you saw his ability," he explained.

“He did quite well in the early stages of this season. He gives us something different, Willum, he’s quite a unique player in his style and that little bit of pause, control and technique to slow it down and pick someone out would be helpful so I definitely think he’s got a role to play.”

“My preference now is to play with two wingers rather than the inverted one so Willum’s role within that would be the 10 and that’s where I see him from now on."

Willum Willumsson could be a vital squad member for Birmingham City amid Chris Davies tweak

Willumsson will hope to immediately stake a claim as to why he should receive regular minutes for Blues between now and May, be it as a starter or a substitute.

Given the link-up play which Stansfield has offered in recent weeks, even besides the cautious approach that will be taken with regards to Willumsson's fitness, it is hard to envisage a starting spot anytime soon.

However, he has showcased exactly what Blues have been crying out for in certain moments, which is a player who can control the tempo of a game when required.

Birmingham have certainly controlled recent home games to a large extent. However, that cannot be said regarding form away from St. Andrew's, which is where a player of Willumsson's attributes will come in handy for Davies.