German defender Phil Neumann missed Birmingham City’s pre-season friendly with Port Vale last weekend
17:02, 31 Jul 2025Updated 17:05, 31 Jul 2025
Phil Neumann of Birmingham City
Phil Neumann is fit and raring to go ahead of Birmingham City’s final pre-season friendly against Premier League Nottingham Forest.
German centre-back Neumann played in Blues’ first two friendlies of the summer, against Sevilla and Burton Albion, before an ankle injury ruled him out of the Port Vale fixture last weekend.
Neumann’s place in the Blues back-line was taken by new arrival Eiran Cashin for the 2-0 victory at Vale Park.
But Neumann is hoping to be restored to the starting line-up this Saturday (3pm) when Forest come to town for the Trevor Francis Memorial Match.
Speaking to BirminghamLive from the club’s media shoot at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, Neumann said: “My ankle was a little bit swollen after a training session but it’s now totally fine and I’ve been back in training since Tuesday. I’m ready to play.”
Neumann could replace Cashin for the final friendly with Chris Davies expected to oversee a dress rehearsal for the Championship opener with Ipswich Town when Forest come to town this weekend.
Davies still has some decisions to make on his starting XI and Klarer’s partner is one of the most pressing.
Reflecting on his first pre-season with Blues, Neumann added: “It was a tough time with a lot of training sessions, hard work, but I settled in really well and my teammates were really nice from the first day I was here.”
Should Neumann start the season in the XI? Have your say HERE
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