Latest Birmingham City news from BirminghamLive as Chris Davies continues his preparations for the 2024/25 season
Birmingham City have been left sweating on the fitness of defender Lee Buchanan ahead of the upcoming season.
The Blues are a fortnight away from the start of their 2024/25 League One campaign. They will host Reading in their opening fixture on August 10.
With preparations for the new term stepping up, this weekend saw one Blues XI take on Walsall in a friendly and another face Aldershot Town. Buchanan was part of the starting line-up for the latter but was forced off early on.
With preparations for the new term stepping up, this weekend saw one Blues XI take on Walsall in a friendly and another face Aldershot Town. Buchanan was part of the starting line-up for the latter but was forced off early on.
The left-back came off with half an hour played of the 3-1 defeat. First team assistant manager Ben Petty was not prepared to take any risks and replaced Buchanan with Sahid Camara.
Asked about Buchanan afterwards, Petty told the club website: “He was just feeling his calf a little bit. At this stage of pre-season we don’t want to take any risks.
“We’re hoping it’s nothing major, but it wasn’t worth taking the chance. We brought young Sahid on at left-back and I thought he was very, very good.”
Keshi Anderson opened the scoring for Blues against Aldershot. He hammered the ball home in the seventh minute after latching on to a lovely ball across the box from Emil Hansson. However, the non-league hosts responded and claimed the win through goals from Ryan Jones, Theo Widdrington and Ollie Bray.
Blues will complete their pre-season programme with a clash against West Bromwich Albion. They will host the Baggies next Saturday (August 3), 3pm kick-off.