Marc Roberts has returned to training on the eve of Birmingham City’s trip to Millwall – but Krystian Bielik has been ruled out until after the international break.
Interim Blues boss Mark Venus is hopeful Roberts will bolster his central defensive options at The Den after the 33-year-old missed the last two games with a calf issue. Blues skipper Dion Sanderson is serving a three-game suspension, meaning Emanuel Aiwu was the only centre-back available to Venus against Hull City in midweek.
Lee Buchanan deputised alongside Aiwu to solve that particular selection headache for Venus. However, the aerial power of Roberts could be needed at The Den against a Millwall side rejuvenated under Neil Harris.
“Marc has trained today,” Venus revealed on Thursday. “We have to see how he reacts to training, hopefully he will train again tomorrow and he will hopefully be fit for selection. He is on the training ground so that’s good.”
Bielik was excelling at centre-back before picking up a groin injury before Blues’ defeat to Ipswich Town two weeks ago. The Pole trained last week only to tear a stomach muscle and will miss Blues’ three games before the international break. .
As things stand, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Aiwu and Buchanan paired together again. Venus commented: “Lee has been versatile. He is open-minded to his position. When the club signed him, one of the aspects they looked at was his versatility, and he fitted in there, took that job on board and did brilliantly.
