News of Viv Solomon-Otabar getting a squad number brought a smile to my face, as the highly-rated winger has been touted as the next player that could break into the first team.
Blues aren’t struggling for pace – a phenomenon that is quite alien to fans during the Bruce and McLeish days – but the introduction of more direct, quick wingers can only be a bonus.
The winger has had rave reviews for the past year, scoring goals and creating chances from a wide position.
However, I personally feel starting the winger at 17 would be unfair on Koby Arthur, who Blues convinced to stay at the club over the summer.
Arthur is a diminutive, intelligent player capable of playing anywhere across the front, though he looks most at home in a central role. Andrew Shinnie is most likely to start behind the striker, so I would start with Arthur on one flank, and Jacques Maghoma on the other, personally.
Solomon-Otabar would certainly come on around the 60 minute mark, if I was manager, to see what he can do against a tiring Gillingham defence.
Up top, as long as he gets clearance, Brock-Madsen would definitely start. We know all about Donaldson, so it would be nice to see what the Danish forward brings to the table in a slightly lower pressure game.
David Davis would get the nod in midfield for me, and would have an important role in stopping Bradley Dack, a midfielder who already has 5 goals to his name this year. Alongside him, it’d be nice to see what Reece Brown could do once again. The midfielder has looked comfortable in the deeper role for the senior team, but has found first-team chances difficult to come by. If he can impress tomorrow night, then he may get another chance.
Mitch Hancox has had very few chances under Rowett, and has struggled to show him why he should. I’d personally like to see Jonathan Grounds at centre-back, but as Hancox has not been up to scratch, Grounds seems the right choice for left back. The centre-back partnership, for me, should stay the same, but Rowett will almost certainly play Paul Robinson. Eardley maybe deserves another shot at right back – he has been poor ever since joining, but maybe he can finally show the form which we expected when he joined.
