Birmingham City vs. Sheffield Wednesday injury news: six out, two questionable

The latest injury and team news before of Birmingham City’s EFL Championship match against Sheffield Wednesday.

Birmingham City return to the EFL Championship when they host Sheffield Wednesday at St Andrew’s.

The international break is gone, and despite the fact that four senior Blues players were abroad on international service, they all appear to have returned uninjured. Jordan James had to settle for the EURO 2024 play-offs with Wales, while Fulham loanee Jay Stansfield made his England under-21 debut.

Midfielders Juninho Bacuna and Neil Etheridge both flew outside of the continent, to the Caribbean and Southeast Asia, respectively, and will have done a lot of travelling by the time they return to the Midlands.

Wayne Rooney has yet to win a game since taking over for John Eustace, and with all due respect, he might not get a better chance than against the team at the bottom of the league. Wednesday are nine points from safety and have only won one league game this season, against relegation rivals Rotherham United. Birmingham have dropped from sixth to 18th in the table as a result of Rooney’s slump, but a win this weekend combined with other results going their way might push them into the top half.

Birmingham face a midweek fixture against Blackburn Rovers on November 29th, therefore Rooney’s team selection could be fascinating. The Manchester United icon has been able to work closely with some of his players without being interrupted by the game, and there is now hope that he can turn things around. Fortunately, his injury situation is improving, and he may soon be able to include individuals in his match-day squad that he was unable to call upon previously.

Click through to see all of the players who are either questionable or declared out for the weekend.

1. Lee Buchanan – unsure

Lee Buchanan has been out of commission for seven weeks. He rolled his ankle during a training session and had previously been a regular in the league games for which he was available.

2. Lee Buchanan – unsure

“I’m hoping that Lee will be available for Sheffield Wednesday,” Wayne Rooney remarked ahead of the international break.

3. Kevin Long – unsure

Wayne Rooney was quoted as saying: “He hurt his calf and he hasn’t trained for the last few days so he wasn’t available.”

4. Kevin Long – doubtful

Before the international break, he did not play in the defeat to Sunderland. He had a knock in the build-up to the Black Cats defeat and had been rested for games against Southampton and Ipswich Town.

5. Keshi Anderson – out

In September, Keshi Anderson suffered a hamstring injury against QPR. He’s been out for the last eight games, but there’s a chance he’ll be back before the New Year.

6. Tyler Roberts – out

Tyler Roberts has been gone since the campaign began. He played 60 minutes against Swansea City and hasn’t played since due to a groyne injury. He was scheduled to face previous club Leeds United, but a calf injury delayed him for several months.

7. Keshi Anderson and Tyler Roberts – out (continued)

Before the international break, Wayne Rooney stated, “Keshi and Tyler Roberts may be a little bit longer too, but gradually we are starting to get players back.”

8. Alfie Chang – out

In training, he had a major knee injury. He is projected to miss the rest of the 2023/24 season. Signed extended terms with the club after his contract expired next summer.

9. Alfie Chang – out (continued)

Alfie Chang said on his recovery: “”It is good, I have had two operations now and have got no more planned – it is just going up from here really, progressing week by week, month by month,” he told the club. “Everyone has been superb to be fair, the lads, the physios and my family at home, everyone has been good and I am around the right people to bring me back.”

10. Juninho Bacuna, Jay Stansfield, Jordan James and Neil Etheridge – fit

Bacuna was in action with Curacao in a friendly against El Salvador on Tuesday morning. He’ll drive the 4,000 miles back to Birmingham. Neil Etheridge, who was also in action against Indonesia in the Phillipines, is another player who has a long road home. Meanwhile, Jordan James and Jay Stansfield represented Wales and England under-21 teams in Cardiff and Liverpool, respectively.

11. George Hall – no longer available

George Hall has returned to the field after suffering a hamstring injury at the end of August. He played 60 minutes for the under-21s but is unlikely to be put into first-team action right away.

11. George Hall – out

“He is not going to be one we just throw straight back in, the way Ethan Laird was for instance,” said Wayne Rooney. We have to really build up (Hall) and make sure we get him right. “I think he’s a player who will take a little bit of time to get up to full fitness and we must monitor that because the last thing we want is him getting injured again.”

13. Juan Delgado – out

Juan Delgado underwent hip surgery in October and could be out until the New Year.

14. Juan Delgado – out

“I think it’s a little bit more long-term,” Röhl told The Star when asked if he’d be back again in 2023. “At the moment I can’t say anything about the restart, but it’s a long process in the next weeks and months.

15. Momo Diaby – Out

Momo Diaby was taken off the EFL squad list on Wednesday after suffering a foot injury against Preston North End.

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