Lewis Koumas is the kind of player who makes things happen and doesn’t leave himself and everyone wondering.
Blues snared the Wales international winger on loan from Liverpool for the season, having seen off competition for his signature.
And for manager Chris Davies, he fits the bill in terms of just what his Blues side require and how he expects players to be.
“Lewis is obviously coming from a great club, a great education development he’s had there at Liverpool,” he said.
“He’s had a loan now, obviously his first loan at Stoke City, he’s coped well with the Championship last season, played a lot of games.
“He’s a winger, can play across the front, left, right and can play in the middle as well. He’s direct, technically good, incredibly tenacious and hard working.
“He’s got a sense of goal and I love the intensity he plays with, he’s not a lad that sort of waits for things to happen.
“He tries to make things happen, so he’ll make runs, he’ll press and give you a lot of that work without the ball as well.
“So I’m really pleased to have him with us now because I think there was a lot of competition to try and attract him and he’s someone we’ve tracked for a while.
“He’s obviously been involved in pre-season at Liverpool, but I’m really pleased that he chose to join us.”
Koumas, 19, could get his first involvement for Blues in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup second round tie against Port Vale at St. Andrew’s.
He made 49 appearances for Stoke in 2024/25 in what was a difficult season. He played under three different permanent managers as the Potters avoided relegation only on the final day.
That experience should stand him in good stead at Blues, in a side that is on the up.
Blues will again be without Alex Cochrane for the visit of the Valiants.
Ethan Laird stepped into the unfamiliar role of left-back with aplomb against Oxford United and set up the decisive goal in the Championship clash for Paik Seung-ho.
Davies is pleased with Laird’s contribution, coming as it did after winning the vital penalty at Blackburn Rovers the week before, when he replaced the injured Cochrane at half-time.
“I was really impressed with his performance
“To play over on that side, you can’t just open up on your left foot and play passes down the line because that’s not your strongest foot. So you have to be really good with your first touch. Really good with your decision making, when to go forward.
“The good thing with Ethan is when there is space he can travel with the ball as well. So he can eliminate the opposition, he doesn’t have to just pass it.
“I thought a lot of his decision making was really good and tactically he was excellent. And don’t forget on the other side (right-back) his role is quite different as it’s really roaring up and down the line. This is a bit more conservative.
“We know defensively he’s strong, one v one and in the air. But everything – body shape wise – he’s on the other side now so you’ve got a lot to think about and be good with.”
With Christoph Klarer now playing as left centre-half and Demarai Gray on the left flank on Saturday – all right-footers – it can cause an issue for Blues.
Davies said: “Not having a natural left-footer in the way we play is difficult. Hence why Alex has done so well for us.
“But I think not only was Ethan crucial generally but for the goal he picked his moment to go forward, got another assist. Just bursting forward, really, he wasn’t there every time but when he went, he made the difference.”
Whether Laird stays in the spot for the Cup tie remains to be seen. A trip to Leicester City in the league comes on Friday night and the energy expended by Laird – indeed both full-backs – might be factor in Davies’ thinking.
There are potential alternatives in the full-back areas in Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Alfons Sampsted.
