Touch and go.
That was what Aitor Karanka’s assessment was of new signing Mikel San Jose as he spoke ahead of the game with Stoke City on the weekend. San Jose has yet to play a game for the club, and that opportunity could arise against the Potters, however Karanka wasn’t willing to commit one way or the other as to whether or not he’ll feature:
💬 AK: "Mikel San Jose is improving, he is working well on the training pitches. He has trained with us all week. If he is ready fitness wise he will go into the squad for Stoke, we will see."
More reaction to follow. 📝 pic.twitter.com/FUfSj2jhIG
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) October 1, 2020
Will we score more goals than we did last season?
Yes
No
The game comes on the verge of the international break, but time is very much of the essence if the 31-year-old Spaniard is to get up, running and adjusted to life in the Premier League, something that Spanish journalist Guillem Balague says is going to be crucial to him being a success in the Championship.
I’ve said from the start that I think he could be an incredibly important player for us, but at the same time I do get the risk of rushing him into a game too early, in a similar way that I think Jonathan Leko should be given the extra time to rest.
What about you? What do you make of this news? Would you play San Jose on Sunday in some capacity?
Can we afford to have a troupe of unfit players – Hogan, San Jose and Leko etc? Players need game time to get fit – Leko does need to be eased in but the other two should be desperate to get on the field and show their value. We are not a rest home but a football club hopefully vying for promotion!