Birmingham City receive Patrick Roberts injury news ahead of Middlesbrough clash

Patrick Roberts has stepped up his recovery by returning to light training, giving Birmingham City hope that the winger could feature against Middlesbrough.

Blues head coach Chris Davies confirmed the update ahead of Saturday’s Championship meeting. Roberts has missed Birmingham’s last two matches after picking up an injury during the draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers two weeks ago.

However, Demarai Gray is expected to remain unavailable, with the forward still struggling to recover from illness.

“Patrick Roberts has done a bit more light training so he’s had a good week,” Davies said during his Thursday press conference. “Demarai is still not quite right.”

Birmingham continue to deal with a shortage of midfield options, made more difficult by Kanya Fujimoto’s loan move to Tokyo Verdy.

There is further encouragement on the injury front, though, with Max Bird and Taylor Gardner-Hickman both making progress in their recoveries.

Davies hopes the midfield duo will be back in full training by the time Birmingham face West Bromwich Albion after the international break, although Gardner-Hickman may need additional match fitness before returning to competitive action.

“Both will be in full training by the time we play West Brom – I hope they’re both back in full training,” Davies explained.

“How much they then need to add on, especially Taylor in terms of a game with the under-21s or whatever, I don’t know. Him and Max are due to be full training by the time we play the West Brom game which will be great because we’ve been light in that area.

“Both have been working very hard so that would be excellent.”