Birmingham City are enjoying an excellent recovery under manager Gary Rowett this season, with the days of Lee Clark and owner Carson Yeung firmly in the past.

Their tenure under Clark was renowned for defensive frailty, a lack of creativity in midfield, and players low on confidence. This defensive frailty was highlighted by their 8-0 home walloping to AFC Bournemouth, which saw Clark sacked.

This is when it all turned around for Birmingham though as Rowett came in, and the former Burton Albion manager is currently working wonders at the Midlands club.

He has solidified the defence with the addition of Michael Morrison, and the defence is considerably more difficult to break down. He has added creativity in midfield and inspired players like Stephen Gleeson, who is playing very well this season.

Rowett and Birmingham have been in fine form this season, and they have even inspired enough ambition from the fans to suggest that the Play-offs may be a realistic ambition for the club.

Whilst they came back down to earth with a home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, they won't let it detract from what has been an excellent start.

Also players grabbing the headlines have mainly been Clayton Donaldson and young starlet Demarai Gray, but who else deserves praise?

FootballLeagueWorld writer Michael Hasan takes a look at five Birmingham players who deserve more credit than they receive.

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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE 5 MOST UNDERRATED PLAYERS!

 

 

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Michael Morrison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After he joined from Charlton Athletic on loan last season, he immediately impressed and, after Rowett had taken over, he was the main component of the defensive recovery.

He has been solid at the back, and possesses excellent aerial ability.

He has been praised by pundits and Birmingham fans alike for his consistently brilliant performances, and the once leaky Birmingham defence has become one of the meanest in the league.

For a player like Morrison to nearly solve Birmingham's biggest problem is no surprise, such is his defensive qualities, and he will be a huge part of Rowett's revolution as it motors on this season.

Paul Caddis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The defender was signed from Swindon Town and has been consistently brilliant since he joined the club, to the point that he has become a cult hero.

His cult status mainly comes from the remarkable last-minute equaliser he scored away at Bolton Wanderers on the final day of the 2013-14 season to keep Birmingham up.

Without that goal, this recovery under Rowett would never have been possible, making Caddis the revolution's most important player.

He also plays in the meaner defence now for Birmingham, but also supplies an outlet of attack. He also scores goals during the season, as he is the team's penalty taker.

David Cotterill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The winger is highly-rated by Birmingham fans, but not so much by fellow Championship fans, which is surprising when you consider the quality of his performances for Birmingham last season.

His nine goals last campaign made him an essential part of Rowett's revolution and, unsurprisingly, he is now a regular starter.

His speciality is set pieces, and he has scored some stunning free-kicks, like the one against Nottingham Forest last season.

He has improved since his time at Doncaster Rovers and is now deservedly earning national call-ups to the Wales squad.

He will be vital this season to nip in with some goals, and to also provide plenty of accurate passes and crosses for the frontmen.

Stephen Gleeson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Irish midfielder has been excellent this season after enduring a difficult start to his Birmingham career last season.

He has been plagued by inconsistency throughout his career, but this season he seems to have found his feet at St Andrews, and has been a constant threat to defences.

He has scored his first league goals for Birmingham this season, earning him a nomination for PFA Player of the Month in August, when Rowett was full of praise for his midfielder.

If he can keep this up consistently alongside midfield partner Maikel Kieftenbeld, it will prove essential to their top six chances.

Jacques Maghoma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Congolese midfielder endured a pretty miserable spell at Sheffield Wednesday when he joined from Burton Albion, which resulted in his release from the Yorkshire club.

He linked up with his former Burton manager Rowett at Birmingham, and has made a good start to life at St Andrews.

He has three goals already in all competitions, including a one against MK Dons. That's three goals more than he managed in all his time at Wednesday, and he will be hopeful that Rowett can continue to get the best out of him.

Birmingham fans... what do you think Are these players underrated and if not who do you think is? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!