Pep Clotet addresses absentee as ex-Birmingham City star linked with Leeds United

A round up of all things BCFC from BirminghamLive

Game on!

The Premier League has agreed in principle that it will kickstart return plans on the 17th of June - hinting that Birmingham City will return to action within the next month.

Top flight clubs met earlier today to discuss a footballing return, and they have agreed to plan for a return to action on June 17th, while the Championship intends to play out it's structured fixtures next month, in the same order that they were scheduled.

Luton Town chief executive Gary Sweet has suggested that clubs will follow the same path, as was the case before football's suspension, that means the Blues will kick off against West Bromwich Albion in June.

On the move?

Former Birmingham City goalkeeper Joe Hart is set to be on the move again this summer.

The 34-year-old is still fondly remembered at St Andrew's for his loan spell from Manchester City in the 2009/10 season.

Hart played a vital role with a string of brilliant performances to help Blues to a ninth-place finish under Alex McLeish and played every minute of the club-record 12 match Premier League unbeaten run.

He was voted Player of the Year by Blues fans and earned a place in the PFA Team of the Year for the top-flight.

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Best wishes

One man who hasn’t returned to Wast Hills as Birmingham City have resumed training is coach Xavi Calm.

The Spaniard was brought in to take over as Blues’ under 23s side, but because of personal reasons he and compatriot Pep Clotet agreed that his stay at the club would also end prematurely.

The Blues boss remains in regular contact with Calm, who is back in Spain with his family.

“I speak to Xavi everyday. I speak even more with him now. He’s facing a tough situation,” Clotet explained.

Digga declines

Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer is hoping that David Davis can be persuaded into returning to full training after the on loan midfielder declined the invitation of group training this week.

Davis, who joined the Addicks on loan from Birmingham City in January for the remainder of the season, had indicated that he is still self isolating amid concerns that it remains unsafe to resume football.

The combative midfielder is the only player in Bowyer’s Charlton squad who has decided against returning to the club’s training ground as players look to get back into the swing of things ahead of a prospective resumption of the league campaign.

A hindrance

Pep Clotet admits that Birmingham City’s home dominated run-in could work against his side as the Championship eyes a return to follow in the footsteps of the Premier League.

The EFL are expected to follow the top flight in the near future, after they confirmed on Thursday that June 17 had been pencilled in as a concrete return date.

Should the Championship get the green light, Blues will be able to complete their nine outstanding fixtures - five of which are at St Andrew’s.

While that would otherwise benefit Blues, who are now back training at Wast Hills, Clotet admits that the lack of atmosphere caused by the fact that games will be behind closed doors could actually end up being something of a hindrance.