Birmingham City are hoping to kick on next season after narrowly avoiding the drop on the final day of last term.

It took a win against high-flying Fulham to keep the Blues up on the final day of the season, with Garry Monk guiding his side to safety after disappointing spells under Harry Redknapp and Steve Cotterill.

Birmingham have a decent squad of players and will be hoping to compete at the other end of the table next year.

But after the first-team players blew hot and cold last year, there are places up for grabs in the senior side.

When the players return for pre-season training, there will be a number of fringe players and youngsters hoping to impress Garry Monk and play themselves into contention for a spot with the first-team.

Here are three peripheral players who could emerge and play unlikely starring roles in the first-team if Monk gives them a chance.

Versatile attacker Lubala has played one senior match and will be hoping to add to that next season.

The 20-year-old is considered to be one of the most talented young players that Birmingham have and a first-team breakthrough cannot be far off.

Scarr was one of the standout players on loan at Wycombe Wanderers last year, playing 26 games and helping his side win promotion to League One.

While there is a sizeable jump from League Two to the Championship, the towering 23-year-old centre-back has certainly shown he has the ability to make it at a higher level.

Many may have thought promising winger Solomon-Otabor's time at Birmingham was up after he once again failed to break into the first-team last year.

But the 22-year-old's performances on loan at Blackpool have alerted Leeds United, Derby County and West Ham United and Birmingham should give him the chance to impress at St Andrew's.