Birmingham City: Dion Sanderson development could be vital given Krystian Bielik news - View | OneFootball

With the Pole set for a spell on the sidelines, the former Wolves man's return couldn't be much better timed

Birmingham City boss Chris Davies will be without captain Krystian Bielik after the international break, with the Pole needing time on the sidelines to recover from an ankle injury.

The Blues skipper failed to return for the second-half in Saturday’s clash with Charlton Athletic at The Valley, with Ben Davies replacing him for the final 45 minutes in the Capital.

City went on to suffer their first defeat of the League One campaign to the Addicks, with Matt Godden claiming the winner just nine minutes after the break.

But while the man with the armband looks to be set for a spell out of the side, recent evidence of Dion Sanderson back on the pitch will buoy the Bluenoses ahead of their return to action.

Dion Sanderson return could help to soften Krystian Bielik blow for Birmingham City

Manager Davies went on to confirm that Bielik will be out for ‘a few weeks’ following his ankle issue, with some huge matches on the horizon for City before the end of the month.

With trips to high-flying Lincoln City and Mansfield Town bookending the visit of Bolton Wanderers to St. Andrew’s in the fixture list once the international break is complete, the Midlands outfit will know they will have to be on top of their game if they are to keep up their good start to the season.

While Ben Davies is more than a capable backup next to Christoph Klarer in the backline, the sight of seeing Sanderson back in a blue shirt will be more than welcomed by all City fans with the latest Bielik setback.

Having featured for the under-21s in their Professional Development League fixture against Sheffield Wednesday last week, the former Sunderland man then went on to play 70 minutes of City’s Football League Trophy clash with Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night.

After appearing to come out of 4-0 victory over the Shropshire outfit unscathed, there will be plenty of hope that the centre back will be able to fill the void of the skipper in the weeks to come, as he steps up his return from injury.

Dion Sanderson can add even more quality to Birmingham City backline

City have a defensive unit that is continuing to develop as it stands, with Klarer and Bielik being flanked by Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Alex Cochrane for the majority of the campaign.

While they have consistently been winning games in the third tier, Davies’ side seem to be content with outscoring their opposition as it stands, rather than keeping the tightest of shops at the other end.

That is evident with just two clean sheets in the league all season, with Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town the only two sides failing to breach the backline, with Sanderson’s return likely to boost the side in that regard.

Having been on loan in the 22/23 campaign, the defender arrived on a permanent basis last summer, with the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man winning the St Andrew’s faithful over with his full-bodied performances in the centre of defence.

While appearances have been limited so far this season, there is no doubt that the colossus at the back will be fighting for a starting place sooner rather than later, with his presence only likely to improve the third tier outfit.

With Bielik’s setback, Sanderson’s reappearance couldn’t have come at a better time, and with a further week to get back to full fitness, it surely won’t be long before we see him back in League One action once again.