Phil Neumann tipped for Birmingham City exit on Chris Davies condition - it's 'ridiculous' | OneFootball

The German centre-back has not played in the Championship since the 10th February

Phil Neumann hasn’t played for Birmingham City in a league match since the 10th February.

The German centre-back has only been a Blues player for the best part of eight months and is seemingly behind the likes of Jack Robinson and Jonathan Panzo for a starting berth.

Given there’s already been reported interest in him from Serie A side Sassuolo - which happened during the winter transfer window - Neumann could very well look to leave Birmingham if a lack of game time persists.

FLW's resident Bluenose, Jason Moore, has delivered a strong verdict on whether the defender will still be in B9 next season.

Phil Neumann tipped for Birmingham City exit if Chris Davies stays

As per Italian journalist, Maurizio Russo, Sassuolo, took an interest in signing Neumann during the January transfer window.

If you pair this with the player's lack of game time, it can be argued that other clubs might be lining up for Neumann's signature in the summer.

But, when asked for his gut feeling on whether Neumann stays or leaves this summer amid that Sassuolo interest, Moore made it clear that, in his eyes, everything hinges on Blues’ head coach rather than the player.

"Phil Neumann depends on what happens with Chris Davies," the Fan Pundit explained - stressing that the German defender's future cannot be separated from how the current boss views his centre-back options.

Moore added, "If Chris Davies isn’t here, then no, I don’t think he goes. But if Chris Davies is here, he’s got to go.

On the pitch, Neumann has started all the 26 league games he’s featured in so far this season, but hasn’t picked up a single minute at all since the FA Cup match against Leeds United - where he played for just half an hour.

Phil Neumann's situation under Chris Davies at Birmingham City labelled 'ridiculous'

Moore went even further during his admission to FLW, pointing to the results Blues picked up with Neumann involved as evidence that the defender deserves more trust from Davies.

"And the fact that we win more games with him in the squad, yet he’s still not playing, it’s just ridiculous," he said, branding the situation unworthy of a side with Birmingham's ambitions - even if a top six finish looks very unlikely now.

From that perspective, keeping Neumann effectively blocked behind Robinson and Panzo would be hard to justify for any coach, let alone one under scrutiny.

In truth, this is the second time this season Davies has left Neumann out of his Blues starting XI, with the first spell coming in October.

At the time, Davies told BBC Radio WM Neumann needed to stay patient for his return. Whatever patience is left, though, might be very thin.

Moore concluded in his assessment by saying, "So, thinking of where Blues are going to be, my gut feeling is Chris Davies won’t be in charge, and Phil Neumann will still be here."

Clearly, if Davies does move on, as the fan pundit predicts, it could hand Neumann the reset he needs. If not, then Birmingham face the real risk of losing the former Schalke man.