Birmingham City find themselves slipping down the table after a run of four consecutive defeats leaving them in 19th place – seven points above the bottom three.
Whilst their previous two defeats against play-off hopefuls Norwich City and Luton Town aren’t cause for concern, failure to bounce back from losses against strugglers Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town previously is.
Protests have again marred City’s games in recent weeks, with their on-field results worsening their off-field situation. Eustace’s side may boast a points cushion too great to be caught, but new arrivals will be needed in the summer to turn the tide.
Here, we list two positions that the Blues need to desperately bolster in the summer…
Centre-back
Birmingham City will be caught light in the middle of defence next season if they don’t act to replace Premier League loanees Dion Sanderson and Auston Trusty, with the pair playing 37 and 33 times respectively – the most of any centre-backs at the club.
Good news at the back has seen Harlee Dean’s reinvolvement after a so far injury-hit campaign, whilst Kevin long has provided a vital January window addition.
However, both Sanderson and Trusty are set to leave the club at the end of the season and will definitely need replacing given their vast number of appearances so far.
Central midfield
Eustace will be in a very similar position in the engine room as he will be in the centre-back department come the summer, with key men Hannibal Mejbri and Krystian Bielik seeing their loans expire at the end of the season.
Making 31 and 26 appearances respectively so far, the most of any centre-midfielders at the club bar Juninho Bacuna, their importance to the side has been unwavering.
City have given regular minutes to youngsters George Hall, Jordan James, Alfie Chang and Jobe Bellingham across the middle of the park, but with Hannibal and Bielik both set to depart, the St Andrews outfit must look at adding experience back into that midfield.
