CHRIS Davies says Christoph Klarer is at home at centre-half – full stop.
The Austrian moved over to the left-hand side of the centre-back pairing with new boy Phil Neumann during the final pre-season game against Nottingham Forest.
It was an unfamiliar move to supporters as the big stopper has been used almost exclusively on the right.
But Davies believes that no-one needs worry.
He said: “I actually didn’t have any doubt on that.
“I mean, when you’re deep and there’s not a left footer, then you can limit your build up a little bit at times, but Chris is really calm on the ball, makes good choices – so he’s fine.
“From there we’ll move up the pitch and he moves slightly more to the middle.
“So, I think he’s equally as good from what I’ve seen at both those roles, whereas Phil Neumann has played a lot in a back three, he’s good at being on that right side, stepping in with the ball.
“I think it suits both of them to that way round. And then, obviously when Eiran Cashin came on, it went back the other way.
“Klarer’s an intelligent player he knows both roles and does both well.”
The other take-aways from the Forest game involved Kyogo Furuhashi – who made several eye-catching runs without being spotted by Blues’ midfield and Tommy Doyle who played in an advanced midfield role.
Taking the Japanese striker first, Davies said: “We always analyse, every minute of every game.
“I’ll look back and try to highlight things.
“He does make very good runs and there may be times when he’s not been quite seen or found.
“But I want him to continue to run and continue to play that energy.
“You can see he’s quick.
He had one where he pressed a goalkeeper and you could see his change of pace.
“It’s all still new for Kyo coming into you know, a new country, actually, and a new league and a new team but you can see quite clearly what qualities he does have, like you say, with a movement and the speed, and he’s obviously a very, very good finisher, although we haven’t created too many chances for him since he’s been playing in pre-season games.
“But he’s someone that will just add to us this season, no doubt.”
The use of Tommy Doyle, sitting in a more advanced role ahead of Paik and Tomoki Iwata, raised a few eyebrows.
The former Manchester City academy graduate has become more used to a deeper-lying role.
But Davies insists that he can thrive in that new environment.
Blues’ boss said: “He can drop in and build up as a more of a six type.
“He can play as an eight – that up and down the pitch – or he can play more as a 10 – in between the lines.
“He’s a really intelligent player, good with the ball. He is creative enough to be a number 10, so he’ll see a pass, he can make a pass, he can shoot.
“If he’s deeper, again, he can knit the game together and switch the play.
“So he’s a good all round midfielder player, I’d say, and I think with the makeup of those three, Paik, Iwata and Tommy, that’s how I’d see it best looking at the moment with the midfield, judging by their qualities.”
