Krystian Bielik needs to tread carefully for Birmingham City, here's why: Opinion | OneFootball

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Wayne Rooney will be eager to see his new Birmingham City side get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

The Blues made the somewhat surprising decision of sacking John Eustace, despite him getting the side into play-off contention in the early portion of the campaign, to replace him with former Derby County boss Rooney.

Indeed, it was a call that shocked many, and the club's loss against Middlesbrough in his first game in charge will certainly not have inspired confidence that the decision was the right one.

Where are Birmingham City in the Sky Bet Championship table?

Of course, there is a long way to go and he will be given time to get his ideas across but results also need to follow, and he'll be hoping that Krystian Bielik is not going to give him a headache in the near future.

Krystian Bielik close to a suspension

Bielik has been a crucial player so far for Blues - starting all 12 of their league games in the heart of the midfield.

Indeed, he has a wealth of experience in the Championship now and is widely respected as one of the better in his position in the league.

He gets around the pitch well and provides steel in the middle of the park, but that has led him to a fair few bookings already this season.

Of course, picking up yellows in the heart of midfield is part and parcel of the role, but Rooney may well be a little worried at the rate Bielik has totted them up.

A player that is key to the Birmingham side, and one that could help get Rooney's methods across quicker than most in the squad given their Derby connection, Bielik is one booking away already from a suspension.

Indeed, he has picked up four yellows thus far this year - against Swansea City, Watford, West Brom, and Middlesbrough respectively - and is now skating on thin ice.

The first yellow card amnesty does not come into play until after the 19th Championship game of the campaign, and so that means Bielik needs to be clean for a number of matches to come.

Indeed, we've only played 12 games so far in the second tier season, with the Poland international averaging a card every three matches, and so that hardly bodes well for now going seven without taking a visit to the referee's book.

Time will tell whether he manages to avoid another caution, but Rooney will hope he can - though it must not come at a cost of what Bielik offers to the side in terms of tenacity.

A fine line is set to be trodden along then.