Birmingham City will start pre-season next week with six players under pressure to perform.

What's at stake for these players?

The new season is just around the corner, and Birmingham City will begin their campaign with a Carabao Cup tie at Swansea City on the weekend of August 7-9. Every first team player except Paik Seung-ho is expected to report for duty six weeks out from the start of the season.

Who are the players with a point to prove?

Ryan Allsop, Ethan Laird, Lee Buchanan, Jack Robinson, and Patrick Roberts are among the players who need to impress manager Chris Davies in pre-season. Allsop, at 34, is settling into the role of back-up goalkeeper but may still have a chance to stake his claim for the number one spot. Laird, on the other hand, needs to convince Davies that he can do it all and win the right-back position. | Player | Position | Status | | --- | --- | --- | | Ryan Allsop | Goalkeeper | Back-up | | Ethan Laird | Right-back | Competing for starting spot |

What does the future hold for these players?

The next few weeks will be vital for these players as they look to secure their spots in the team. Birmingham City's recent form has been DWWDW, and they finished the last season in 10th place in the Championship with 64 points. They scored 57 goals and conceded 56, with a goal difference of +1. The team is 31 points behind leaders Coventry, but a strong pre-season could set them up for a successful campaign. As the players return to training, they will be looking to make a positive impression on Davies and prove themselves as valuable assets to the team.