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Three out and three doubts: Birmingham City vs Reading team news for League One opener

Birmingham City host Reading at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park in their opening League One match of the 2024/25 season

Birmingham City left-back Lee Buchanan suffered an injury in pre-season
Birmingham City left-back Lee Buchanan suffered an injury in pre-season

Birmingham City will be without two players when Reading come to town on Saturday evening amid concerns over captain Krystian Bielik.

Bielik sustained a shoulder injury in Blues’ final pre-season friendly win over West Bromwich Albion and had to be replaced by Christoph Klarer shortly before half-time. The centre-back moved to reassure supporters that his injury is ‘nothing serious’ on Sunday as we await a definitive update from manager Chris Davies.


Left-back Lee Buchanan and midfielder Alfie Chang are confirmed absentees. Buchanan is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a calf injury and Chang is still recovering from a serious knee injury sustained 12 months ago.


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Giving an update on Buchanan recently, Davies said: “I think the prognosis was around about six weeks before he could return to training. It’s going to be a couple of months before we see him back at least.

“It’s disappointing because we had been OK in pre-season for injuries. That was a blow because he’s an important player for us.”

Reading are dealing with injury issues of their own. Royals boss Ruben Selles could be without three influential defenders for the game at St Andrew’s.

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Captain Andy Yiadom is out with a knee injury and fellow full-back Kelvin Abrefa is also struggling. Abrefa and centre-back Jeriel Dorsett have missed all of Reading’s pre-season matches but they have returned to training this week.

Speaking last weekend, Selles said: "Jeriel Dorsett and Kelvin Abrefa have both been in their last week of rehab. Kelvin is a little bit ahead of Jeriel, but I expect them both to be training with me on Monday so hopefully, we can have them ready for Birmingham."

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