Birmingham City start their Carabao Cup campaign at home to Sheffield United on Wednesday evening
15:54, 12 Aug 2025Updated 15:59, 12 Aug 2025
George Hall has not started for Birmingham City since August 2023
Chris Davies must strive to strike the right balance between managing minutes, being competitive and guiding Birmingham City through to the second round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
The Championship new boys take on a team that was within 90 minutes of reaching the Premier League last season when they face Sheffield United at St Andrew’s @Knighthead Park in an 8pm kick-off.
They do so both buoyed by their performance against promotion favourite Ipswich Town in their first league game and frustrated that they couldn’t hold on for what would have been a statement victory.
The Blades, under the new management of Ruben Selles, were hammered 4-1 at home by Bristol City in their curtain-raiser but will arrive with a squad packed with quality.
Selles will no doubt field a much-changed team, as will Davies as he considers which and how many to make.
An obvious one comes in goal where it would be a surprise if James Beadle doesn’t come in for his Blues debut in place of Ryan Allsop. Davies rotated his goalkeepers last season until the very last stages of the cup competitions.
James Beadle of Birmingham City
It seems similarly logical to name the next cabs off the rank in the defence, with Ethan Laird, Krystian Bielik and Eiran Cashin – the second debutant – making their first starts of the season.
Davies showed great faith in Alex Cochrane’s durability last season but may err on the side of caution this time round and offer Alfons Sampsted a rare chance.
Tommy Doyle holds the keys to the next quandary, whether Davies sees him as a No 6, 8 or 10 – so far the hints have been the manager wants to utilise the Wolves loanee’s creativity a bit further forward, potentially as a ten.
That could leave Marc Leonard partnering Tomoki Iwata in the middle of the park, with Doyle deployed alongside Willum Willumsson and Taylor Gardner-Hickman.
I wouldn’t be that surprised to see George Hall handed his first Blues start since August 2023 – but I can’t quite get there – I would, though, tip Lyndon Dykes to get the nod ahead of Jay Stansfield and Kyogo Furuhashi.
Blues predicted XI: Beadle, Laird, Bielik, Cashin, Sampsted; Iwata, Leonard; Willumsson, Doyle, Gardner-Hickman; Dykes
What XI would you pick? Have your say here
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£43
£35
Sky
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.