Birmingham City have finalised a deal to sign winger Liam Millar from Hull City and are preparing for a West Midlands derby this weekend. The Blues, currently 11th in the Championship with six points from four games, have moved to strengthen their attack ahead of a busy schedule that includes an away trip to Norwich on September 9th.
What will Liam Millar bring to Birmingham City?
According to a report from Alan Nixon, Birmingham City have agreed a deal to sign Canadian international Liam Millar from Premier League side Hull City. The 26-year-old winger, who scored the winner for Hull last weekend, was reportedly keen on a move to secure more regular playing time. Millar adds a versatile option to Chris Davies's squad, capable of playing as an out-and-out winger or as a wing-back in a back three.
His work rate and ability to make direct runs in behind defences are seen as assets for a Blues side that has scored five goals in the league this season. The signing provides competition for places on the left flank, where Jay Stansfield has been deployed. You can view the full squad list on our squad page.
How did the transfer window affect Birmingham City's plans?
The club's late move for Millar came after they opted against signing another forward target, Mohammed Fuseini. The Derby County Telegraph reported that Birmingham City had been strongly linked with the Ghanaian attacker but instead switched focus to secure Millar's signature. Fuseini's agent, Max Hagmayr, told Footy-Africa that Derby County demonstrated the "best future prospects" for his client after interest from several European clubs.
This leaves Chris Davies with a refreshed attacking unit as he looks to build momentum. The team's recent form reads DWDD, and they are five points behind early leaders Swansea City. A look at the standings shows the competitive nature of the division.
What do fans need to know for the Wolves match?
Wolverhampton Wanderers have published a matchday guide for their trip to St Andrew's this Sunday for a 12pm kick-off. A sold-out away allocation of just under 2,000 Wolves supporters will make the short journey across the West Midlands. The visitors will wear their new white away kit for the first time this season, while Birmingham City will be in their traditional blue home shirt.
The weather forecast predicts a partly cloudy afternoon with temperatures around 22 degrees Celsius. Wolves have advised their fans that all tickets are digital and were emailed on September 2nd. Birmingham City will be without the sidelined Marc Leonard for this fixture and others, with injury updates available on our injuries page.
Where does Birmingham City go from here?
With the transfer window closed, attention turns fully to the pitch. Securing Millar's signature ahead of Championship rivals is a positive step for the Blues' recruitment. The immediate focus is on building from a solid, if unspectacular, start to the season that has seen them concede just four goals.
The upcoming match against Wolves is a significant local derby, followed by a league game against Norwich City, who are one place below Birmingham in 12th. The full schedule of upcoming matches can be found on our fixtures page. Birmingham City's next Championship fixture is away to Norwich on September 9th.
