Birmingham City boss Pep Clotet is hopeful that Gary Gardner will be able to return to training after the international break.

The 27-year-old has been an important player for Birmingham this season, making eleven appearances in the Championship.

However, the midfielder has missed the Blues' last four matches, after suffering a knee injury in the 1-0 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road in mid-October - a setback that required a minor operation.

Gardner was initially ruled out for four-to-six weeks and Clotet has now revealed that there is a possibility that the player could return to action for the clash with Huddersfield Town after the international break.

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The Birmingham boss admitted that the midfielder is making positive progress towards his recovery, but also insisted that he will not force the player back into the team if he is not ready.

“I don’t know if that will be a lot of pressure for him, they said four to six weeks,” Clotet said, as quoted by Birmingham Live.

“I was speaking to him last week, he looks much better, he looks fine and stable and has been doing a lot of work.

“I don’t want to put that pressure on him to be available, it needs to be when it is sorted, but it’s going very well - so possibly.”

Birmingham have made a positive start to the new season under Clotet and are currently 13th in the Championship table going into the international break.

The Blues have lost their last two matches though and will be hoping to return to winning ways against Huddersfield in just under two weeks time.

The Verdict

Gardner has been an important player for Birmingham this season, so it'll definitely be a boost for Clotet when the player is able to return to action.

It's great news that the midfielder is making good progress towards his recovery, but the injury was obviously quite a serious one, so it's good that Clotet is prepared to give him all the time he needs.

Gardner will be determined to make an impact when he does return to the side, but that could prove easier said than done due to the emergence of Jude Bellingham in midfield.