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Birmingham City boss Chris Davies could line up a major surprise against Leicester City which would see one new signing thrown into the fight.
Birmingham City travel to Leicester City on Friday evening, in a game that could be decisive in the promotion picture.
It could be a real statement for the Blues to deliver a win this weekend, considering that Birmingham City have not beaten Leicester City since 2011.
Blues boss Chris Davies will also be keen for his side to respond to their surprising midweek EFL Cup defeat to Darren Moore’s Port Vale.
After a summer full of recruitment for Birmingham City, Davies has plenty of options to choose from as he looks to go full strength against the Foxes. This could include the surprise choice to potentially start one Blues statement signing, who we caught a glimpse of in the EFL Cup clash against Port Vale.
Chris Davies could surprise Birmingham City fans with potential Lewis Koumas start
Birmingham City managed to fend off Championship competition to land the loan signing of Lewis Koumas this summer, which looks to be another sign of ambition from the owners.
After the new Blues attacker started in the midweek against Port Vale, it would be a surprise to see him handed yet another game this weekend, but he could potentially get ahead of Demarai Gray in the pecking order. Gray has shown quality so far in his second Birmingham City spell, but the opportunity may be handed to Koumas from the start on this occasion.
It was, however, a difficult debut for Koumas in a Blues shirt, with the wide-man struggling to make an impact against Port Vale, losing possession 11 times and completing just one dribble, according to SofaScore.
Chris Davies has already been told why he should start Lewis Koumas
The choice between Demarai Gray and Lewis Koumas proves to be a difficult one for Chris Davies ahead of the clash with Leicester City.
It could be argued that Gray could help exploit Leicester City, his former team, but Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman would suggest otherwise with his assessment of the Liverpool loanee.
Via Football League World, Goodman said: “Well, basically, in Lewis Koumas, what Birmingham City are signing is a player with lots and lots of potential.
“You’d have said the same last season when Stoke City signed him, and he started off last season like a house on fire and looked a real talent.
“But, as the season wore on slowly, as it did in terms of Stoke City, his performance levels just petered away.
“So you hope that a very vibrant, a very intense, a very front-foot Birmingham City team can get the best out of him.
“I’m not sure how much game time he’s going to get. We will have to wait and see on that, as they do have quality in those areas.”
As Goodman believes, it may be important that Davies throws Koumas into the side early on and capitalises on what could be another bright and fast start at a new club, as he did with the Potters last season.