Blues duo Will Packwood and David Murphy close to return
Centre-back Packwood out since a broken leg in January, while left-back Murphy has almost recovered from knee surgery
Colin Tattum
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Stricken Blues duo Will Packwood and David Murphy are poised to return to the fold.
Packwood broke his leg in January and Murphy needed knee surgery in November.
"We have had good news on Will Packwood and Dave Murphy, who are coming along brilliantly," reported manager Lee Clark.
"They are not too far away. They will be back with the group training.
"They obviously need a few games, so we will be organising behind closed doors matches for those lads because they will be big assets to us in the coming season.
"It was originally pencilled in for them to join in on the Monday after Watford (August 5). But, without me trying to push the medical team, it could be a little bit earlier, maybe a day or two.
"Certainly the Monday after Watford, that's ahead of schedule anyway after serious injuries.
Will Packwood
"It will be great to have those two lads back. As I have said before, it's a big one for Will because I know he did terrifically well as a right-back for me last year and that's always a possibility for him.
"But I am seeing him in his normal position this season, playing as a centre-back.
"And everyone knows what I think of Murph. He's one of the best, if not the best, in the division in his position.
"Obviously with his injury and his age, we have to manage it over the course of the season. Will's a little bit different, being a young lad.
"But Murph's training schedule, from now on in for the rest of his career, will have to be managed, how often he trains and how hard he trains," Clark added.
Blues take on Hull City today at St Andrew's in their final pre-season friendly.
They will be without Lee Novak (hamstring), Nikola Zigic (back) and Darren Ambrose (groin), but Hayden Mullins and Koby Arthur are fine again after niggles.
"I have got my ideas on the team for the opening league game against Watford," said Clark.
"But what I have stressed to the players is this isn't the be all and end in terms of if you are not in the side against Hull; it isn't over for you.
"There's still Monday, Tuesday, Thursday to convince me. I am open to it.
"I know probably what I want to do but things can change in a short period of time in football. We have got one or two injury issues."
Hayden Mullins
Lee Clark