Chris Davies opens up on Ayumu Yokoyama snubs and sets...

Ayumu Yokoyama may also be on the sidelines at Charlton Athletic, as he hasn’t played for Birmingham City in the previous four League One lineups.

Ayumu Yokoyama is a marginal player for League One leaders Birmingham City, and Chris Davies has advised him to “stay hungry”

while he waits for another opportunity to shine.

Japanese winger Yokoyama has had a strong start to his B9 career, but he has been left out of Blues’ previous four matchday

rosters.Instead, Davies has chosen to draw on the expertise of Scott Wright, Keshi Anderson, and Emil Hansson.

Nor has Willum Willumsson’s change of position aided Yokoyama’s cause. Now that Willumsson is taking the right-wing spot,

Hansson, Anderson and Wright are virtually battling for one other slot in Davies’ line-up.

Opening up on why Yokoyama has been overlooked of late, Davies told BirminghamLive: “From his point of view, he’s still

adapting. He did come in and make an immediate contribution but there are others with a little bit more experience who have gone

ahead of him.

“We’ve got a translator now working here at the club to help support the communication side. He’s obviously learning a lot about the

country, the language, and the culture.”

Davies has already taken issue with the 18-man squad rule in League One and that hasn’t worked in Yokoyama’s favour. The 21-year-

old is expected to be involved when Blues play Shrewsbury Town in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy on Tuesday

“He’s still young, so there’s an adjustment phase going on here,” Davies went on, “but he’s a player I definitely see a big future at the

club.” He possesses many of the qualities a winger needs, including quickness, dexterity, and goal-scoring ability.

“He’s making progress and will definitely see game action; it’s just a shame that he’s been left out of these 18-man squads.” His task is

to remain hungry since an opportunity will present itself, and he must seize it.

Chris Davies opens up on Ayumu Yokoyama snubs and sets Birmingham City winger a challenge