The Local Lowdown: Birmingham City

This is Birmingham’s 13th consecutive season in the Championship – the longest stint of any team currently in the division. How would you sum up that period for the club?

Birmingham City have endured an extremely turbulent 12 years since winning the Carling Cup in 2011. Under the ownership of Carson Yeung and more recently Trillion Trophy Asia, the club was going nowhere in a hurry. In the last six seasons Blues have been fortunate to keep their heads above water in the Championship.

Thankfully, the clouds cleared at St Andrew's in the summer when American investment firm Knighthead ended TTA's dismal period of power. The slogan Knighthead are ramming down everyone's throats is 'Birmingham on the rise again' and, finally, the club is moving in the right direction. 

Has this season brought a greater sense of optimism following the takeover?

Without doubt. Knighthead haven't hidden their ambitions for the club and the city. The club's recruitment strategy felt different in the summer. Players who would previously have been out of reach were swayed by 'The Project'. That project is to reach the Premier League, whether that's this season or next – Blues' new owners are in a hurry. 

John Eustace lost his job as Birmingham manager a fortnight ago despite his side sitting in the play-offs at the time of his departure

What’s the general feeling behind the recent change of manager, with Wayne Rooney replacing John Eustace in the hot seat?

It wasn't unexpected, because rumours swirled for a month or two before the change happened. But the timing of the decision certainly surprised us all. Blues had just won back-to-back games and played their best attacking football of the season when Eustace was sacked. 

Now the dust has settled, and Rooney has been appointed, Blues fans are trying to give their new manager a fair chance to prove himself. 

Were there any early signs of change in the team’s approach for Rooney’s first game in charge at Middlesbrough?

The style of football is completely different, Rooney has admitted that himself. He has been asked to make Blues more entertaining and ambitious on the field, and we saw that in his first game at Middlesbrough. The set-up was completely different to what we had been used to under Eustace. Under Rooney's leadership, it is clear that Blues will try to be a more front-footed, ball-playing team. 

Wayne Rooney has overseen two games so far: a 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough and a 2-0 home loss to Hull

Which players have impressed in the first few weeks of the season?

There have been a few. Dion Sanderson and Kevin Long have struck up an excellent understanding in defence. Sanderson has come of age since being handed the captaincy and is very much a Premier League defender in the making.

Krystian Bielik is absolutely vital to the way Blues play and the team now has three attacking talents who are capable of exciting spectators in Siriki Dembele, Koji Miyoshi and Jay Stansfield. 

What do you expect from Saturday's game?

I know Southampton will try to play total football under Russell Martin and Blues are no longer happy to let their opponents dominate possession, so I expect an interesting matchup. Blues won't enjoy the lion's share of the ball in every game under Rooney, so it will be interesting to see if their counter-attacking instincts kick in at St Mary's.