"A very, very high" - Strong prediction delivered on divisive Birmingham City player | OneFootball

The right-back joined Blues last season from Manchester United.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

There is no denying that Birmingham City have one of the most talented squads in all of League One.

Blues have been involved in the fight for automatic promotion from the very start of the season, and while they did drop points to Northampton Town late on in their most recent game, their form early on has seen them be a real contender for a return to the Championship.

Chris Davies' lack of inexperience as a manager in senior football has not proven to be an issue for the 39-year-old, and he has got his excellent team playing some superb football that has been lighting up St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

While the season is well under a third of the way through, Birmingham will be looking towards lifting the league title in May, and will need all members of their squad to play a part to help with that ambition.

Ethan Laird could play Premier League level

Not too many teams in League One can boast the quality of players that Blues have throughout the entire club, but with that strength does come split opinions from supporters.

As with any team, there are players that will cause differences in judgement over their ability and what they can bring to the side every week.

Football League World has asked their Birmingham Fan Pundit, Mike Gibbs, which one player divides opinion at his club, and which side of the fence he sits on.

He told FLW: "I think the one at the moment, I would probably say, and to a degree last year as well, is Ethan Laird.

"I think last year he started really well and then got injured. He didn't quite hit the heights when he came back from injury and I think the reason he divides opinion is, on his day, he's absolutely outstanding, but his injury record and I think consistency have been a bit of a problem.

"I also think his end product has been, at times, a bit of an issue."

Mike continued: "In terms of the side of the fence I sit on, I'm a big fan of his. I think at this level he's outstanding. I really do think he could play at a very, very high level if he can find that consistency which I think is in him, and he will develop with age.

"I think he's outstanding. I think he could probably play right at the top of the game in terms of the Premier League. I could see him at a sort of mid to lower Premier League side doing well week in week out."

Laird has started to show more consistency this season

While the season is still relatively young, there have been signs so far that Laird is starting to become a bit more of a consistent performer, and he has looked solid on several occasions.

It is not very often that the 23-year-old is dribbled past, with it happening just twice in his first eight appearances, and he is finding great success with his tackling, completing 80% of the ones he has put in.

While he is showing defensive strengths, he is starting to get better going forward as well, and it will not be long before he picks up his first assists of the campaign.

Laird has created 10 chances for his teammates in the opening three months of 2024/25, and it's a luxury that Birmingham have been blessed with on both flanks. Alex Cochrane has been superb at left-back and is a constant threat on that side, and therefore, it was very important that the right-back was involved in a similar fashion to create balance.

Birmingham look as though they will win promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking, and if Laird carries on his current form he can play a big part in that.