Birmingham City can be happy with their progress under John Eustace in the Championship so far, with Blues sitting fairly comfortably in mid-table. 

Eustace’s side have collected 28 points from their 21 fixtures so far, leaving them 13th in the table, five points clear of the relegation zone and three adrift of the play-off places.

Scott Hogan’s goals have been key for Blues over the course of the season, with the 30-year-old scoring nine in 21 appearances. That’s supplemented by a hat-trick against West Brom, but heading into the World Cup break, the Irish international had notched four in seven games and was in good form.

As the World Cup rolls on in Qatar and the Championship’s pause continues, we’ve taken a slightly different look at the table here, opting to examine how the division would look if only domestic goalscorers’ goals counted.

As per transfermarkt, there’d be little change for Birmingham, who would have 25 points on the board - just three less than they actually have. Eustace’s side would be slightly better off when it comes to their league position, sitting 12th in the table.

In terms of the goals that would count here, Birmingham would have scored only eight times and just 12 of their 20 conceded goals would count against them, leaving Blues with a goal difference of -4; Hogan’s goals are seemingly scrapped owing to his international commitment to ROI.

Elsewhere in the division there’s plenty of club’s relying on non-domestic goalscorers, with second-placed Sheffield United ranking 22nd in the Championship and eighth-placed Swansea City in 23rd.

Luton Town would actually top the Championship with 42 points right now looking at domestic goals only, whilst other big movers are Blackpool and Huddersfield Town, who move from 23rd and 24th to sixth and 10th respectively.

The lowest goalscorers in the Championship, counting domestic goals only, would be Bristol City with four, although only nine of the Robins’ goals against would count, which ranks them 20th in the table.

Of course, it’s all trivial really, with the Championship a division where clubs are leaning on foreign players more and more each season given the better value they offer in the transfer market.

For Birmingham, though, it appears they can’t shake off that mid-table tag, whatever way you look at the table.