With John Eustace now at the helm, Birmingham City will be looking to push on and hopefully climb up the Championship table ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Blues finished 20th last season, ten points above the relegation places, but after 16 months in the dugout Lee Bowyer was relieved of his duties.
Eustace arrives at St Andrew’s amid the club’s ongoing takeover uncertainty following his spell as Republic of Ireland’s assistant manager.
As well as being Stephen Kenny’s right-hand man, the 42-year-old was assistant manager at Queens Park Rangers under Steve McClaren and Mark Warbuton.
Eustace has only took charge of nine games during his fledging managerial career, seven of which came during his caretaker spell with QPR and two with Kidderminster Harriers.
Birmingham’s new manager faces a tough assignment in his first game in charge with his side travelling to face last season’s play-off semi-finalists Luton Town on Saturday, 30 July.
HITC Sport takes a look at how Birmingham City could line-up for the trip to Kenilworth Road to face Nathan Jones’ Hatters.
How Birmingham City could line-up
According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, former Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper John Ruddy is set to join the Blues on a free transfer following his release from Molineux.
The 35-year-old, who has one cap for England, has a wealth of experience playing in the Premier League and Championship under his belt and he’ll likely become Eustace’s number one.
The early signs taken from Eustace’s tenure is that the former midfielder will deploy a 3-5-2 formation.
With Ruddy seemingly itching closer to a move to St Andrew’s, he will be reunited with former Wolves teammate Dion Sanderson who has re-joined the Blues on a season-long loan.
The 22-year-old made 16 appearances for Birmingham before joining QPR for the second half of last season.
Manchester United youngster Teden Mengi had an impressive start to life in Birmingham following his arrival in January but injuries curtailed his season.
While a move for Mengi could potentially appeal to Eustace, Sanderson could start the season alongside Marc Roberts and Maxime Colin in a three-man defence.
Following Ivan Sunjic’s loan move to Hertha Berlin and no midfield signings yet being made, Gary Gardner and Ryan Woods could be deployed in a two-man midfield.
He may only turn 17 in September, but Jobe Bellingham could follow in the footsteps of his brother Jude and become the driving force in the current Birmingham side.
Jobe made three first-team appearances last season and he could be set for a starring role under Eustace if his new manager believes he is ready to become a regular in the starting line-up.
Poland international Przemyslaw Placheta has moved to St Andrew’s on a season-long loan from Norwich City.
The 24-year-old made 14 appearances for the Canaries last season, six of which were starts in the Premier League.
Since arriving at Carrow Road from Slask Wroclaw, the winger, who could be unleashed on Birmingham’s left-hand side has scored one goal and provided three assists from 42 matches.
Prior to Tahith Chong’s groin injury last season, which saw the former Netherland’s Under-21 international miss half of the season, the Manchester United winger was a key part of Bowyer’s side and the Blues struggled without the former Feyenoord youngster.
After enduring underwhelming loan spells with Werder Bremen and Club Brugge, Chong relished and thrived being at Wast Hills and with the 22-year-old unlikely to form part of Erik ten Hag’s plans at Old Trafford, Eustace should try and bring the bushy-haired forward back to St Andrew’s.
Scott Hogan was Birmingham’s top scorer last season with 10 goals and the Republic of Ireland international will likely lead the line under Eustace.
The former Aston Villa man could be joined upfront by former Watford captain Troy Deeney who will be hoping to prove his fitness and worth under his new manager.
When fit and available, Deeney is more than capable of banging in the goals at Championship level and the 34-year-old will be targeting a significant uplift on the four goals he managed in his first year at Birmingham City.
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