What Birmingham City must do if the player leaves, Juninho Bacuna reward and Tom Cannon race

Birmingham City are gearing up for a huge day in the club’s calendar when Leeds United visit St Andrew’s on Saturday.

It will be the first home game played under the ownership of Knighthead and American businessman Tom Wagner will be in town to watch it. Wagner has watched Blues make a solid start to the season from afar.

Blues defeated Cheltenham Town 2-0 on Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Carabao Cup after opening their Championship campaign with a credible 1-1 draw at Swansea City. Promotion favourites Leeds will provide the sternest test to date of Blues’ own credentials.

This week hasn’t been without its fair share of transfer news, although things have quietened down on that front after nine quickfire summer arrivals. Blues reporter Alex Dicken sat down with supporters for a Q&A on Wednesday to discuss the most pressing topics…

“He’s got such talent. Technically he is fantastic and he can really move for a central midfield player. It feels like you’ve got to shoehorn him into the team because he played so well on Tuesday. I’m not sure he’ll play as one of the two holding midfield players in this 4-2-3-1 system against Leeds, I think he might get in a little bit further forward.

“That would mean that one of Tyler Roberts – who has been struggling with a groin complaint – or Keshi Anderson drops out. I do think Bacuna deserves a start and I hope Eustace finds a way to put him in. I’m not sure where, my guess is that it would as a more advanced midfield player.”

Would you like a cup run?

“Don’t get me wrong, I would rather Blues compete high up the Championship table than have any cup run. But if we’re looking at 12th potentially being a good season, I would like a nice little cup run in there as well. Blues won this competition in 2011 but they haven’t got past round four since. I think the FA Cup still holds more prestige, but the Carabao Cup is easier for clubs like Blues because the Premier League clubs don’t take it as seriously.”

John Ruddy

“This is such a difficult one. I covered Wolves before I came over to report on Blues and John Ruddy was back-up there for a long time. Speaking to him last season, after he’d played 43 games in the Championship, he was so enthusiastic about playing and being a number one again.

“I would be surprised if he went to Luton to sit on the bench again. I know it would involve a pay rise, probably a considerable one. The other thing is that by the sounds of it they are signing two goalkeepers to compete for the number one spot. The other player they have signed is Thomas Kaminski from Blackburn Rovers. I think Ruddy might fancy his chances of going there and being the more dependable number one.

“Ruddy is a top goalkeeper. He’s not only improved standards on the pitch, he’s also driven the improvement in standards off it. Whenever you speak to people who have worked inside a football club with John Ruddy they only speak well of him, so it would be a big loss, both on the field and off it.

“If that is what he wants at this stage in his career, then Blues have got to get the best fee and the best replacement possible and move on.

Incomings

“As far as I’m aware, they are desperate for defensive reinforcements. A centre-back is top of the priority list given they only have two fit players in that position after Marc Roberts got injured before the Swansea game. Right-back is another key position they could strengthen in. Marcel Oakley has done quite well throughout pre-season and stepped up as the deputy for Ethan Laird, but I think Eustace would like a more experienced option.

“Then you are potentially looking at a loan striker. I think most clubs in the Championship are going to be looking at players like Tom Cannon, who was so successful in this league last year. Blues will be no different in looking at those players. It will be a rush for them when they do come on the market and are allowed out on loan. Key positions to keep an eye on are right-back, centre-back and that centre-forward, who scores 15 plus goals a season, which has been eluding Blues for a number of years now.”