00:00Birmingham City's transfer activity was extensive with 12 new arrivals giving Chris Davis greater
00:07depth and flexibility. Yet despite the comprehensive business, the manager didn't quite secure
00:13everything he had hoped for. One priority that slipped through the net was cover at left-back.
00:20Davis had made clear his desire to bring in another option behind Alex Cochran,
00:25but a deal never came to fruition. Fortunately for Blues, Cochran has returned to fitness and is
00:32expected to slot back into the starting 11 at Stoke City after the international break.
00:38The 25-year-old knows exactly how Davis wants his full-backs to operate and any signing would only
00:44have been used in a supporting role. In the meantime, Davis has found workable solutions.
00:51Ethan Laird has filled in admirably during the last three league games, showing he can handle the
00:56demands of the position. Samstead is more likely to feature in training drills or 11 v 11 shaped
01:03sessions rather than competitive fixtures, especially with no cup matches scheduled before January.
01:10Another potential option emerged late in the transfer window in Jack Robinson.
01:15The 32-year-old began his career at left-back before transitioning into a centre-half, makes him a natural
01:21fit for Davis' system. Robinson himself has stressed his versatility, noting his comfort across the entire
01:28back line. There is also Aaron Cashin, another left-footed defender. While Davis has admitted that using the
01:36Republic of Ireland international at full-back would only be considered as a last resort, his presence at
01:42least provides an extra layer of insurance should injuries take place.
01:48If Lee Buchanan's recovery continues to stretch on toward January, when the club can reassess the market,
01:54Birmingham still possess a variety of options to cover Cochran.
01:58Davis may not have landed the extra reinforcement he wanted, but with Cochran fit again, adaptable players in the squad
02:05and tactical flexibility at his disposal, the manager has enough to manage the left side effectively until the new year.
Comments