Demarai Gray’s Early Return Could Be a Blow to Birmingham’s Championship Push

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Demarai Gray has made an early return to Birmingham City after sustaining a groin injury while on international duty with Jamaica. The 29-year-old winger had been due to play in Jamaica’s World Cup qualifier against Curacao on Friday but instead returned to the UK for assessment and treatment.   Gray has been in excellent form for Birmingham this season, starting all nine Championship games since his summer return and scoring his first goal of the campaign in last week’s 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday. His absence is a blow both for club and country as he continues to play a pivotal role in Birmingham’s season.

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00:00Damari Gray had made an early return to Birmingham City after sustaining a groin injury while on

00:07international duty with Jamaica. The 29-year-old winger had been due to play in Jamaica's World

00:13Cup qualifier against Curacao on Friday, but instead returned to the UK for assessment and

00:19treatment. Gray has been in excellent form for Blues this season, starting all nine championship

00:25games since his summer return and scoring his first goal of the campaign in last weekend's 2-2 draw with

00:32Sheffield Wednesday. Jamaica felt the impact immediately. The Caribbean side suffered a 2-0

00:38defeat to Curacao in Gray's absence, leaving them second in their World Cup qualifying group, where

00:44only the winners advanced directly to next summer's finals in the US, Canada and Mexico.

00:51This is not for the first time the winger has had to pull out of international duty.

00:55September's fixtures also missed due to similar concerns. Jamaica manager Steve McLaren admitted

01:01that losing Gray was a significant setback, acknowledging his quality and the form he has

01:07displayed at Birmingham this season, while also noting the opportunity it provides for other players.

01:16For Blues, Gray's early return is critical. His experience, pace and creativity are central

01:21to the team's attacking play, and his form has been a key factor in their performances so far

01:27this season. The championship campaign resumes this Saturday, with Birmingham hosting Hull City.

01:35The club will be eager for Gray to recover quickly and rejoin the squad, not only to strengthen

01:40their promotion push, but also to maintain the momentum built over the opening months of the season.

01:47Gray's presence provides leadership and skill on the wings, and his swift recovery will be crucial for

02:06both Birmingham's ambitions in the championship and his continuing contributions at an international level.

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