Birmingham City have had an indifferent season as of so far with very little to be moaning about, but the same could be said about the fact there's not a lot to be excited about at St. Andrew's.

The Blues were on the brink of becoming promotion contenders although the new owners differed for their own way.

By that I mean they sacked promising young manager Gary Rowett at the beginning of December to bring in unsteady Gianfranco Zola.

The Italian has struggled to make an impression at the Midlands club, with just one point from his first four matches but did earn the Blues an FA Cup Third Round replay at Newcastle United, following their 1-1 draw at the weekend.

Zola will be wanting to make a positive impact at Birmingham City during January - including getting rid of some of the fringe players in the first-team or axing those who don't deserve to be anywhere near the starting eleven.

Here are two players Gianfranco Zola needs to axe over the next seven days to help his cause ahead of the visit of Nottingham Forest at the weekend.....

 

Diego Fabbrini

Zola may struggle to get rid of a fellow Italian, but the 26- year-old found game time under Rowett difficult, and has only just appeared back in the first-team after being frozen out of the matchday squads.

Diego Fabbrini arrived at Birmingham City 12 months ago, which would be his second spell at the Blues having spent time on loan there in the 2014/15 campaign from Watford.

The midfielder has made 20 appearances since his arrival last January but has made as little as seven this season and looked to be surplus to requirements.

Zola gave him his first minutes on the pitch at the end of December since the beginning of November in a 1-1 draw to Huddersfield.

It's obvious that Fabbrini doesn't have a future at Birmingham and there's no point letting his career rot in the reserves.

Gianfranco Zola needs to axe him immediately for the benefit of both parties.

Robert Tesche

It seems as though Birmingham City have an abundance of unnecessary midfielders at the club, and Robert Tesche is one of them.

I'm all for strength in depth but from looking at the Blues' squad they may have one too many.

The 29-year-old German only joined the Midlands side last summer after his contract at Nottingham Forest had expired.

Tesche is no spring chicken and his career only has a number of years left before he's forced to hang up his boots.

He had put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal when he signed but I'm quite confused as to why - his chances have been very limited this season and will need to go in order for first-team action.

The west Germany man has made just 12 appearances this term and that may mean he'll be axed by Gianfranco Zola, and swiftly, as the Italian looks to trim his squad.