The 13 players set to miss Birmingham City v Southampton ft £30k-per-week man | OneFootball

Football League World reviews the injury and suspension bulletins for Birmingham City and Southampton ahead of Monday evening's clash

Birmingham City host Southampton on Monday evening in a high-stakes affair at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, in which under-fire Blues head coach Chris Davies will be desperate to exact revenge over Tonda Eckert's side and relieve growing pressure and uncertainty surrounding his future.

The two sides locked horns at the start of the month, where a resurgent Southampton triumphed 3-1 on the south coast courtesy of goals from Finn Azaz and Adam Armstrong.

That result would kick-start a slump in form for Birmingham, who had won five of their previous eight encounters ahead of the trip to St Mary's but have taken just two points from their last four matches since.

Defeats at QPR and Sheffield United, coupled with frustrating home draws against Charlton Athletic and John Eustace's Derby County, have mounted pressure on Davies, with ex-Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick reportedly a leading contender to take over from the 40-year-old if Knighthead relieve him of his duties in the Second City.

It was reported that Davies would require victories over both Derby and Southampton in order to retain his job amid ever-intensifying internal and external pressure, and with just a solitary point separating the two sides heading into the final Championship affair of the calendar year, the stakes are incredibly high for the former Tottenham Hotspur assistant.

So, with that in mind, Football League World has taken a look at the absentees in both camps ahead of the crunch showdown...

14 ? ? Christoph Klarer

Birmingham will be without the steely services of star defender Christoph Klarer, who saw red in the dying embers of the 1-1 draw against Derby for his reckless high challenge on Rams midfielder Ebou Adams.

Given the nature of the foul, the Blues captain will miss his side's next three matches in what represents an undoubted blow at St Andrew's.

13 ? ? Demarai Gray

Birmingham's first body blow at home to Derby came early in the first-half when Demarai Gray pulled up with a knock to his calf, which saw him hauled off for Lewis Koumas and could keep the winger sidelined for a number of weeks.

That's according to Davies himself, who explained afterwards: "I wouldn’t be able to give you days or weeks on that one, but if you have to come off in a game you can anticipate a few weeks. I think it’s a knock on his calf."

The full extent of Gray's injury remains unclear for the time being, but either way, he appears poised to miss Southampton's visit to the Second City and his absence will be felt, with the forward — estimated to be earning a weekly wage of £30,000 by Capology — having recorded five goals and four assists in the Championship to date, including a strike in the aforementioned reverse fixture.

Another suspension-enforced absentee will come in the form of midfielder Tommy Doyle, who is currently serving a three-match ban for his early dismissal in Blues' 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United on December 20.

Marc Leonard stepped in for the ex-Manchester City prospect against Derby and will be expected to retain his place when Southampton come to town, with Birmingham rather short of options in the middle of the park right now.

Bright Osayi-Samuel, meanwhile, will be unavailable owing to his ongoing participation with Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The versatile right-back, who has been in and out of the Birmingham side under Davies following his summer arrival from Fenerbache, has started each of the Super Eagles' opening two AFCON fixtures.

10 ? ? Alex Cochrane

Birmingham are undergoing something of a crisis in the full-back positions, with dependable left-sided operator Alex Cochrane currently sidelined with a muscle injury.

The 25-year-old made 54 appearances across all competitions last term and has featured on 18 occasions in the Championship to date but has missed Blues' last two outings, which has seen both Jack Robinson and Eiran Cashin deputise at left-back in his absence.

Cochrane is expected to make a return in the next week or so, but Davies confirmed that the Southampton fixture could come too soon for the former Brighton and Hove Albion man.

9 ? ? Ethan Laird

Ethan Laird, on the other hand, is undertaking a longer road to recovery, with the right-back poised to wait until February for his return to training after suffering a serious hamstring injury during Blues' 3-0 loss at Coventry City back in September.

A dependable figure in the West Midlands ever since his summer 2023 switch from Manchester United, the energetic 24-year-old's long-term absence has promoted Davies to move central midfielder Tomoki Iwata into a right-sided defensive role.

8 ? ? Lee Buchanan

Lee Buchanan has been absent for some time now, with the left-back awaiting a return after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Blackpool a year ago today.

The Derby academy product has entered the latter stages of his recovery process but is not set to return imminently quite just yet, it would seem.

7 ? ? Scott Wright

Buchanan isn't the only player in the Blues camp currently nursing an ACL injury, however, as winger Scott Wright is also nearing the end of his recovery from the same setback.

The ex-Rangers wide-man was a sporadic fixture in Davies' side last term before suffering a season-ending knee injury away at Reading all the way back in February.

He's expected to return following the turn of the year, and is said to be ahead of Buchanan in his recovery process.

6 ? ? Elias Jelert

Southampton hold the advantage of boasting a cleaner bill of health in comparison to their next opponents, although they share difficulties in the full-back area and Tonda Eckert's side will be unable to call upon summer signing Elias Jelert.

On loan from Turkish giants Galatasaray, the 22-year-old right-back made four appearances in the Championship before picking up a quad injury, which was predicted to keep him sidelined for "four to six weeks" by now-ex boss Will Still.

That was in October, however, and Jelert is yet to return to a matchday squad since, meaning it feels unlikely that he will be involved in any capacity at Birmingham.

Another summer signing at full-back currently stuck to the Saints treatment table is Mads Roerslev, who suffered a knock in his side's 3-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday last month.