The Verdict

It's great to see Etheridge looking fit and healthy ahead of a potential return to Birmingham's first team.

The 65-cap Phillipines international doesn't seem to have lost a step and last season he was important to Birmingham's late-season rally to stay in the Championship.

He has found his starting spot under threat though thanks to the good form of Sarkic, who didn't do much to inspire fans in pre-season but since the beginning of the Championship campaign he's been in fine fettle.

Even though he looks fit and well, Etheridge may have to wait a while to don the Blues jersey again but it will be comforting for Bowyer to know that he now doesn't have just one good Championship goalkeeper to call upon - he has two.