Stockport County v Birmingham City injury and team news as 8...

The Blues’ first EFL League One match of 2025 will take place in Greater Manchester.

Birmingham City will play promotion rivals Stockport County at Edgeley Park to start the new year.

The Blues and Blackpool played to a goalless draw on Sunday, while Stockport’s 1-1 tie with Rotherham United was

marred by a number of injuries. Stockport is in fifth place with 12 points and four spots separating them from

Birmingham, who are still leading the league by a point and have two games left.

Both clubs have had to navigate their way through a busy period, and it’s eventually taken its toll. Here’s the latest

injury and team news ahead of the EFL League One clash.

Stockport County team news

Though Dave Challinor stated that he suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday, Louie Barry, who has interest from the

Championship, appears to have played his final game of his loan spell after parent club Aston Villa decided to recall

him. The 21-year-old scored his 15th league goal against Rotherham United, now leading the division in goals.

Lewis Bate is the latest to join the treatment room. David Challinor said he would be out for between three to four

weeks, along with Tanto Olaofe who has been given a similar time frame for a return.

It’s feared that Lee Buchanan could be facing another lengthy spell on the sidelines after being stretchered off in the

goalless draw with Blackpool. He went down with a knee injury just four minutes into the match, and was taken to

hospital.

Speaking to BirminghamLive, manager Chris Davies said: ““There’s no definitive news but it didn’t look good. I’ve

seen a picture of it and it doesn’t look good. He was in a lot of pain.

“It’s a real shame for someone who has worked so hard to get back to fitness, to have another big setback like that is

really disappointing. We will have to see how he goes and obviously he will have a scan in the next few days.”

“I don’t know the extent of Emil’s other muscle injury,” Davies said.

“It was innocuous, just jogging back into position I think and he felt something.”

When Christoph Klarer began his first game back after receiving five yellow cards for the season, he was knocked

down. He was removed just before the hour, and since their next game is so soon after, Ben Davies is unlikely to play.

Scott Wright and Alfons Sampsted are hoped to return soon. Both players have been training, and if they don’t play

against Stockport County, they should be able to play against Lincoln City or Wigan Athletic.

Since sustaining an ankle injury while on international duty in November, Sampsted has been sidelined. Since

suffering an injury in the lead-up to the match against Lincoln City, Wright has not been eligible for selection.

Emil Hansson and Lee Buchanan are out. Doubt: Alfons Sampsted, Scott Wright, and Christoph Klarer.