‘Superstar’ attacker starts as Eustace fills Ethan Laird void - Birmingham City predicted XI v Plymouth Argyle - gallery
Charlie Haffenden
·2-min read
Looks to be staying at St Andrew’s after some speculation earlier in the transfer window.
Birmingham City return to home soil on Saturday afternoon as they take on Plymouth Argyle in the Sky Bet Championship.
Sat in fourth place in the league standings after a tremendous seven points out of an available nine, John Eustace’s side have the opportunity to soar even higher this weekend.
Reaching the top of the table is theoretically possible if results elsewhere go Blues’ way but the focus will merely be on the game in hand.
Despite not playing in the opening three league games, Williams comes in with Ethan Laird and Marcel Oakley both unavailable through injury.
Argyle have started the campaign well after their promotion from League One, beating Huddersfield Town, drawing to Watford and losing narrowly against Southampton.
Steven Schumacher has his side playing some exciting attacking football and Eustace will be very wary of that, especially with the right-back position looking a slight frailty.
Injuries to Ethan Laird and Marcel Oakley have left Birmingham very light on the right side of defence, so that’s one toss-up Eustace will need to make.
Another headache is caused by those in the forward positions as Siriki Dembele is also injured and Scott Hogan is struggling for goals.
Will be hoping to maintain his newly-found partnership in central defence alongside the skipper.
With all of that in mind, here are the 11 players we think Blues will start with on Saturday, as well as brief explanations for each inclusion.
Absolutely dominant in all areas defensively and his confidence has seemingly risen ever higher with the captain’s armband.
Adjusting to his new surroundings well and stays in the side ahead of Manny Longelo. Some healthy competition.
Was as reliable as always last week and will be handed another 90 minutes by Eustace, we expect.
Quickly becoming quite the fan favourite again in central midfield alongside Bielik. Been impressive every time he’s played.
Yet to score a Championship goal with Blues but has one assist to his name. Looks like the best option at 10.
Scored last weekend and deserves a place in the XI; could become a superstar for Blue based on early impressions. Particularly the case after an injury suffered by Siriki Dembele.
Performed well in the right midfield role at Bristol City and could rotate with Jordan James in that role going forward.
Enduring quite the goalscoring drought but Eustace appears to be sticking with the Irishman week in, week out.
BRISTOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 19: Koji Miyoshi of Birmingham City celebrates scoring their first goal of the matchduring the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Birmingham City at Ashton Gate on August 19, 2023 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
A couple who quit the UK to retire early in Lanzarote say they are now "living the dream" mortgage-free in the sun. Helen and Stephen Walker decided to take the plunge after a horrid year in which three people close to them died. They quit their property business, sold their three-bed semi in Cosby, Leics., and relocated to Yaiza, a town on the Canary island. Helen, 56, and Stephen, 55, are now financially free and spend their days exploring and relaxing. They say they'd never have been able to retire in the UK at their age - but life is much cheaper in Lanzarote. Helen said: “We’re living the dream. We never got a break at home. “We could never afford to take early retirement in the UK." Helen and Stephen rarely went on holiday as they were self-employed. And, even when they were away, they’d be answering phone calls and messages. But one year Helen convinced Stephen to come away on holiday to Lanzarote 0 and they fell in love with the place. She said: “We came to Lanzarote and loved it so much. “We were walking straight out to sea and he turned around and said 'I could live here'. “I said I could live here as well.” With Brexit in motion, Helen and Stephen then had to act fast if they wanted their dream to become a reality. They became more determined to go for it after losing three friends and family members in one year. Helen said: “We lost three people in that year. We thought 'We need to do it now. “We can’t think about the kids here – we’re going before grandchildren. Otherwise we’d never do it.” They found it hard to leave their children behind but their youngest daughter, Kate Walker, now 22, went to live with their son James Sorrell, 29. Helen said: “We put the house on the market. “In December 2019 we travelled all down the island looking at where we wanted to live. “We found a newbuild in Yaiza and thought ‘this is the place’.” The couple sold their UK home for £225k, and bought the three-bedroom Lanzarote property for £220k. They moved out in January 2020 and purchased the empty property in February – before lockdown hit in March. Helen said: “Luckily we had the kitchen done before lockdown.”. The pair have since spent around €40k renovating their home in Lanzarote – and have no mortgage and low bills. They were shedding out £650-a-month on a mortgage, and £230 for their gas, electric and water bills in the UK. Helen said: “There’s no mortgage and no finance. It’s a lot cheaper here to live. I could never retire in the UK.” The retired couple spend their days going on walks around the island, going for a coffee and lunch together and having chilled evenings in front of the TV. They go out for food or drinks when friends are visiting and around once a week together. Helen said: “Our fitness is fantastic. We do 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. “We travel around the island. We can travel from one end of the island to the other in 45 minutes. “My view is the Timanfaya national park. The language barrier is a problem sometimes but we’re learning Spanish.” Helen has “no regrets” but does miss her kids. She said: “It’s just lovely but I miss my children. Taking my kids to the airport after a visit is the hardest thing. “I cry and cry. But we’re only a four hour flight away.” Helen said Lanzarote has now become a home for the couple. She said: “We’re never bored. There’s always something to do. This is my home.”
Patrick Cantlay's caddie Joe LaCava apologised to Rory McIlroy before Sunday's Ryder Cup singles for his behaviour on Saturday which enraged the European star, according to US media reports.The American had also brushed off media reports that he was protesting against the lack of pay for players at the Ryder Cup by not wearing a cap.
A school bus driver who died when it overturned on a motorway has been named as 40-year-old Stephen Shrimpton. Barbara Flynn-Southern, a director at The Port Grocery CIC - a charity that Mr Shrimpton worked for, told Sky News he was "an all round good guy who will be sorely missed by a lot of people". Having volunteered as a driver for the company during the first COVID lockdown, Mr Shrimpton worked "endlessly" and briefly became a full time employee, delivering food and supporting vulnerable people within the local community.
Luis Diaz was ruled to be onside when running through to put Liverpool ahead but the VAR team failed to communicate their decision to the on-field officials
Yahoo News 
