Birmingham City have issues at right-back with Ethan Laird injured and Bright Osayi-Samuel off to AFCON
Bright Osayi-Samuel of Birmingham City
Birmingham City are set to have Bright Osayi-Samuel available for their next three matches after FIFA delayed the international window for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Osayi-Samuel has been named in Nigeria’s provisional squad for the tournament which starts on December 21 and players were originally supposed to join up with their countries on December 8.
FIFA have now delayed the date at which clubs have to release players until December 15 meaning Osayi-Samuel will be eligible to play against his former club Queens Park Rangers and Charlton next week.
Blues have been in discussions with Osayi-Samuel and the Nigerian FA over the matter and Chris Davies expects the 27-year-old to jet off after the Charlton game on December 13.
Osayi-Samuel has lost his place in the Blues starting line-up to Tomoki Iwata over the last two months but he will be missed during the most hectic period of the Championship calendar.
Should Nigeria reach the AFCON final on January 18, Osayi-Samuel will miss at least seven Blues matches including the FA Cup third round tie.
Osayi-Samuel will miss five Championship games even if Nigeria, who are one of the pre-tournament favourites, don’t make it beyond the last-16.
With Ethan Laird out long-term due to a hamstring injury, Iceland international Alfons Sampsted will provide cover to auxiliary right-back Iwata while Osayi-Samuel is away.
Sampsted made his second substitute appearance of the season in Monday’s win over Watford and Davies has praised his professionalism.
The Blues manager said: “He wanted to play in the under-21 match last week. He played 70 minutes, was outstanding, we got great feedback from the under-21 coaching staff around the way he conducted himself.
“That 70 minutes and the way he’s been training made him ready for that 15 minutes that he came on.
“I have no doubts on his attitude. With Bright Osayi-Samuel heading off to AFCON, he is going to become a key part of our squad moving forward.”
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