Curtis Davies backs Blues in Europe
Thursday 25th August 2011, 3:00PM BST.
Curtis Davies believes Birmingham can show how good they really are as European football returns to St Andrew’s after a 50-year gap.
Blues host Portuguese side Nacional tonight in the second leg of a Europa League qualifying play-off, hoping to kick-start their season after a slow start in the Championship.
The relegated Carling Cup winners have claimed just three points from their opening three games and were beaten 3-1 by Middlesbrough last weekend.
But, after the club slashed ticket prices, Blues will be backed by the majority inside a full house as they seek to build on last week’s goalless draw in Madeira.
Victory will secure a place in the group stages but, with promotion the club’s prime aim, it has been suggested in some quarters the European competition could be more of a hindrance.
But Davies, 26, who experienced European football with previous club Aston Villa, is relishing what’s ahead.
He said: “You don’t know who you will draw but you will get one big team in your group, so you have got the potential to play an Atletico Madrid or a Sevilla.
“I am sure anyone would want to test themselves against those type of players. We have to do it for the fans and, having not been in European competition for 50 years, it’s massive.
“But we just want to get in the competition for ourselves, first and foremost, and hopefully the fans can enjoy a few away days.”
Birmingham have learned that youngster Jordon Mutch will be out for three months with a broken foot while midfielder Morgaro Gomis and strikers Cameron Jerome, Marlon King and Nikola Zigic all remain sidelined.
New loan signing Guirane N’Daw is ineligible while defender Scott Dann, who has been linked with a move before the upcoming transfer deadline, is also missing through injury.
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