Exclusive: How Don Goodman thinks Birmingham City, Wolves deal will impact Marc Leonard | OneFootball

Marc Leonard could see his gametime further reduced after the loan capture of Tommy Doyle

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman believes that Birmingham City's loan capture of Tommy Doyle has left Marc Leonard's position "up for debate."

Blues are looking to make an immediate impression this season as they mark a return to the Championship during their 150th anniversary year, with owner Tom Wagner and Knighthead Capital Management not holding back when it comes to their aims of returning to the Premier League.

Chris Davies was backed heavily during his first season to make a plethora of high-profile and necessary additions to a squad now stacked with depth and quality in several positions, and that hasn't stopped heading into the current transfer window.

The likes of Sunderland and Wrexham were also keen on moving for the Wolves midfielder, before Football League World exclusively revealed that Birmingham had fended off the strong competition with a loan agreement including an option-to-buy next summer, and the figure has since been reported by Alan Nixon to be in the region of £10m.

Doyle's signing was made official on Wednesday night, and he joins an already impressive midfield department which includes the aforementioned Leonard, who has been jostling for a starting berth alongside the duo of Tomoki Iwata and Seung-Ho Paik for the past 12 months.

However, the Scot's predicament at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park now feels uncertain, at least in the short-term, with Goodman believing that all parties involved will reach a conclusion that benefits the 23-year-old above all else.

Don Goodman's verdict on Marc Leonard, Birmingham City situation following Tommy Doyle arrival

The former Brighton and Hove Albion man initially caught the eye of many during two successful loan stints at Northampton Town, proving he could make the step-up from League Two to League One with the Cobblers, before Blues, once again, fought off several competitors for his signature on a four-year deal at just £500,000.

Birmingham's lengthy involvement in the EFL Cup, FA Cup and EFL Trophy meant that Leonard did feature in 45 of the club's 60 overall encounters. However, that doesn't paint the full story, especially in the third-tier, where he made just 14 starts and played the full 90 minutes on just five occasions.

The Scotland youth international did impress during those brief starting cameos, but like many supporters in B9, Goodman has questioned how much involvement he will have this term, with it being claimed that several of Blues' divisional rivals are monitoring the situation ahead of a potential loan departure.

"You feel that it was a strange season for Marc Leonard, really, last season," the former Wolves striker exclusively told Football League World.

"I think there were high hopes and expectations, and he started the season well and was a regular in the starting XI, then found himself out of the team and having to come off the bench on a regular basis before getting back into the team at the back end of the season.

"In terms of letting him go, there's definitely a decision to be made with the signing of Tommy Doyle and the fierce competition for places," Goodman stated.

"He's 23 years old, he's going to want to play week in, week out, and whether or not he's going to be able to do that at Birmingham City in the Championship next season is up for debate, really.

"I'm sure they'll come up with the right solutions that will be of benefit to both Birmingham City and Marc Leonard," the pundit concluded.

Birmingham City facing crucial Marc Leonard decision ahead of Championship season

Last season was one of mixed fortunes for Leonard, as whilst he would have been extremely pleased to have been a part of a record-breaking season in so many ways, his individual gametime took a massive hit.

The aforementioned duo of Paik and Iwata are expected to transition into the Championship fairly seamlessly, whilst Doyle has proven quality at this level and a promotion with Sheffield United already on his CV, meaning the Scot already has his work cut out.

Of course, the relentless nature of second tier football means squad depth is a necessity. Leonard will hope to prove himself at the level for the very first time in his career, having already shown numerous glimpses of his tenacity and technical ability in the EFL's lower reaches, but that cannot come at the cost of his future development, meaning there is a huge decision for him and Davies to mull over.