Wayne Rooney clarifies Birmingham City fitness grumble and Kevin Long absence

Latest Birmingham City news from BirminghamLive includes Wayne Rooney on the team's fitness levels and Kevin Long's absence at Sunderland

Wayne Rooney believes the international break has come at the perfect time for Birmingham City.

Sunderland inflicted a sixth straight away defeat on Blues yesterday. Three of those defeats have come under Rooney, who has taken just one point from five games in charge since succeeding John Eustace.

The manager has struggled to maintain results whilst implementing a new pressing, attack-minded playing style. Rooney has bemoaned Blues’ fitness levels during his first month in the job and will use an uninterrupted two weeks on the training ground to address it.

“I think the break has come at a good time for us,” said Rooney. “It’s a chance for the players to put some really good fitness work in ahead of a tough three or four months.

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“We are seeing improvements but we can’t just keep saying we’re seeing improvements, we need to pick up results. The fitness work is such an important thing with how I want my teams to play.”

Rooney stressed that he isn’t blaming the issue on his predecessor Eustace or the club’s current fitness staff.

“This is nothing to do with the former manager and nothing to do with the fitness coaches. The way they played before was a completely different way and (involved) sitting back a lot. What I’m asking the players to do now is be front-footed and press high, it’s really intense and hard work, so it’s a different fitness level.”

Kevin Long has recently lost his place in the starting line-up to Emanuel Aiwu and the Irishman didn’t travel to the Stadium of Light. Rooney confirmed afterwards that Long has sutained an injury. “He hurt his calf and he hasn’t trained for the last few days so he wasn’t available.”