Chris Davies can no longer ignore Birmingham City star and Alfie May might pay the price
Chris Davies has a selection dilemma to ponder before Birmingham City's next League One match against Lincoln City
Scott Wright is becoming more difficult to ignore by the week and his brilliant showing at Shrewsbury Town surely puts him on the cusp of a first league start for Birmingham City.
Chris Davies has utilised Wright from his bench in League One fixtures but the clamour is growing for him to start. The winger’s two goals at Shrewsbury, plus his assist for Tomoki Iwata, has boosted his chances of being in Blues’ XI at Lincoln City next weekend.
Despite the fact that every player wants to start, Wright has bought into Davies’ ‘starters and finishers’ ethos. No player has played more minutes off the bench for Blues this season than the 27-year-old Scot.
“It’s different opportunities at different times, whether that’s from the start or the bench, I just want to help the team as much as I can - goals, assists or just running with the ball and trying to bring my strengths to the team,” said Wright. “We’ve got a fantastic changing room of everyone wanting to help the team. It’s a collective thing rather than a personal thing here.”
READ: Every Blues player rated after 13 games as BPF falters and TGH surprises
READ: Forgotten Blues whizzkid has caught Brendan Rodgers’ eye with goal glut
If Wright does come into Blues’ starting XI, it will most likely be at the expense of Willum Willumsson, Jay Stansfield or Alfie May. Willumsson and Stansfield are away on international duty with Iceland and England under-21s respectively, whereas May is still in the building.
Davies’ Wright selection dilemma – and who he might replace – was debated on the Keep Right On Podcast this week.
Alex Dicken said: “I would start him and he would replace May for me. Scott Wright would be on the right, I’d move Willumsson central and I’d play Hansson on the left behind Stansfield.
“There’s always the argument during the international break over whether the manager will go with a group that he’s worked with during the break, but Chris Davies probably can’t afford to this time around because he has so many key players away. Stansfield comes back and plays surely, Paik comes back and plays surely, if Luke Harris was fit Willumsson might not play, but again I think he does.”
Brian Dick added: “In my mind Scott Wright has played himself into the starting line-up. The machine favours his skillset at the moment and as much as Taylor Gardner-Hickman is a cog that’s making it work, so is Scott Wright, and it’s all about relationships. The relationship between Wright and Gardner-Hickman is looking pretty good at the moment.”