Dael Fry is set for a limited role against Middlesbrough this weekend, with the defender having seen minimal action since his summer switch to Birmingham City. The former Boro centre-back has played only the dying minutes of two Championship games and made one start, which came in a heavy Carabao Cup defeat.
Fry's shock departure from the Riverside came after he decided against signing a new contract, with the club's hesitance linked to his injury struggles in recent seasons. He enjoyed a solid run under Kim Hellberg last term but has found opportunities scarce at St Andrew's. His only start for the Blues was in the 6-1 cup loss to Brentford.
Patrick Roberts' fitness in doubt
Patrick Roberts, who turned his loan at Birmingham into a permanent move last winter, is nursing an injury with no guarantee he will make the bench. The former Middlesbrough loanee worked his way back into favour late last season, starring in games against Southampton and Wolves. Blues correspondent Alex Dicken said Roberts has been carrying a knock in the last week and is better suited to home games where his side has more possession.
Birmingham's direct approach
Chris Davies's side play a direct 4-2-3-1 shape, prioritising route-one play to 6ft 4in striker August Priske and flooding the box with crosses. They have won the most aerial duels in the Championship across the first five games and use set pieces as a key component. Dicken noted the team rarely takes chances playing out from the back now, a contrast to the issues they had when Middlesbrough visited in March. "Birmingham City are built to be competitive," he said.
The Blues have started the season well and feel they could have more points, having narrowly lost to Southampton and had a goal chalked off at Norwich. Key players include wide men Liam Millar and Carlos Vicente, with Jay Stansfield back in his preferred central role and Jhon Solis impressing in midfield.
Boro's strong start and St Andrew's record
Middlesbrough travel south sitting third in the Championship on 14 points after seven games, with their recent form reading DWLWD. They are unbeaten in their last five league outings and have a formidable record at their upcoming venue. Boro have won each of their last five visits to St Andrew's, including a 3-1 victory last season where Matt Targett scored twice and David Strelec headed home. Their next fixture is a home game against Blackburn Rovers.
That historical edge, combined with their current push near the top of the table, provides a confident backdrop. However, their weakness in defending crosses this season will need to be remedied against a side built to exploit it.
Fry's unlikely start
This weekend's match, with Middlesbrough likely to dominate possession, should suit Birmingham's counter-attacking style. Yet a start for Fry appears highly improbable. "Fry hasn't had much chance due to the excellent form of Phil Neumann next to Blues skipper Christoph Klarer," said Dicken. He explained that Davies kept faith with Neumann after his improvement last season and the pair have forged a solid partnership. "Neumann and Klarer have forged a solid partnership and it would be a major shock if Fry started Saturday's game," Dicken added. The correspondent suggested Fry may only be used to see out a game if the Blues are leading, having been limited to just 18 goal minutes of league action so far.
Middlesbrough, who reached the play-off final last term, will look to striker Will Lankshear for goals; he leads the team with six this season. The squad's full availability can be seen on our injuries page. Boro aim to extend their winning run at St Andrew's this Saturday as they look to maintain their automatic promotion push against a Birmingham side sitting 10th.
More detail at Teesside Live
