Birmingham City could be without eight players against Bristol City after Marc Roberts became their latest injury casualty during the 3-1 defeat to Stoke on Boxing Day.

Roberts limped off shortly after Andre Vidigal had scored Stoke’s third goal. The 33-year-old has only recently returned to Blues’ line-up after injuries to Kevin Long, Ethan Laird and Cody Drameh forced Wayne Rooney into a defensive reshuffle.

Rooney might have to make more changes to his defence against Bristol City, who have won their last three games to move within touching distance of the Championship play-off places. That is unless Roberts can make a speedy recovery.

Speaking about Roberts’ injury after the game, Rooney said: “I haven’t seen the extent of it or what it is. We are very bare at the back and we’re trying to fit players into the back-line, so hopefully it’s not too serious.”

In addition to a lengthy injury list, Rooney will be without influential midfielder Krystian Bielik against Bristol City and Leeds United. Bielik is serving a three-game ban for a red card against Plymouth.

Blues have, however, been boosted by the returns of long-term absentees Tyler Roberts and Keshi Anderson. Here is the rundown of Blues’ injury issues before the clash with Bristol City…

Marc Roberts

Injury: Unspecified

The experienced defender had to be withdrawn in the 53rd minute of Blues’ defeat to Stoke with an injury. Rooney was unsure what Roberts had done after the game, but it may have been a consequence of five starts in 18 days after so long without regular football.

Lee Buchanan

Injury: Concussion

Left-back Buchanan suffered a nasty head injury during Blues’ 3-3 draw with Plymouth on December 23. Buchanan suffered a clash of heads before landing awkwardly on the Home Park turf and left the field on a stretcher.

Concussion protocols mean Buchanan’s return to training and matches will be phased. Buchanan isn’t expected to return in time for the match with Bristol City.

Cody Drameh

Injury: Ankle

The on-loan Leeds United defender picked up an ankle injury in a training session before the Coventry game. Rooney suggested Drameh would be sidelined for around two weeks, meaning he could return at some point over Christmas.

George Hall

Injury: Hamstring

After missing two months due to a hamstring injury, Hall resumed training in early November. In order to increase his fitness, he played two games for the under-21s. Following a minor setback, Hall began last week’s U21 match against Barnsley, but it didn’t go well.

“George will be out for six to eight weeks after he has sustained another injury. His other tendon,” Rooney remarked. “That’s tremendously disappointing because we’ve been extremely cautious with George. He is undoubtedly a very skilled player. We scanned his opposite hamstring to the injured one after he played 82 minutes for the under-21 team. He’ll be absent once more.

Due to four consecutive hamstring ailments, the incredibly gifted youth has only played 58 minutes of football for the first team since April.The incredible breakthrough season that saw Hall named the Blues’ Young Player of the Year in May hasn’t allowed him to build on it.

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