Super Eagles: Two ways Bright Osayi-Samuel can transform his Birmingham City career

Bright Osayi-Samuel has admitted that his fitness problems contributed to a difficult first season at Birmingham City, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 28-year-old joined Birmingham from Fenerbahçe last summer with considerable European experience and high expectations after his spell in Turkey.

However, his first campaign in England failed to match those expectations. An injury in September disrupted his progress, while Tomoki Iwata and Ethan Laird took advantage of that situation to claim the right-back position.

His performances for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco provided a reminder of his capabilities, but the defender recognised that he needed to make significant changes ahead of the new campaign.

After analysing his own performances from last season, Osayi-Samuel identified his fitness as one of the biggest areas that needed improvement.

He spent part of the summer working with his personal coaches before returning to Birmingham for a full pre-season.

How Bright Osayi-Samuel can transform Birmingham career

1. Improved fitness

Osayi-Samuel’s biggest advantage has always been his athleticism. The Nigerian can cover ground quickly, compete physically with opponents and contribute on both sides of the pitch, but those qualities are difficult to maximise when a player is not physically at his best.

That was something Osayi-Samuel acknowledged himself after his first campaign.

“I did my analysis of my games last season and my fitness was not where I would like it to be so I knew that was something I had to work on,” the 34-cap Super Eagles defender said in an interview with Birmingham Mail.

His summer programme was tailored to fix that deficit. Rather than trying to regain his fitness while simultaneously competing for a starting position, he entered the new campaign having completed the club’s preparation programme without another injury setback.

His impressive opening outing against Swansea suggests that the work may already be producing results. If he can maintain that level of fitness throughout the season, Birmingham could finally see the defender they expected when they signed him.

2. Birmingham’s tactical changes could bring out his defensive strengths

Fitness is only a part of the equation. Davies has also changed the demands placed on Osayi-Samuel.

Last season, the right-back was expected to contribute heavily to Birmingham’s attacking build-up while also providing defensive cover. That required him to operate almost constantly up and down the flank.

The situation is now different. Birmingham are more willing to play directly rather than insisting on building every attack through short passes from the back, and that change could suit Osayi-Samuel.

With Carlos Vicente providing a more independent presence on the right wing, the Nigerian does not have to overlap as frequently or provide as much attacking support.

Instead, he can concentrate on defending, winning individual battles and using his pace to recover when Birmingham lose possession.

That could make his role less physically chaotic while allowing him to focus on the qualities that made him successful at Fenerbahçe.

Osayi-Samuel himself acknowledged the importance of adapting to different approaches in the Championship.

“In the Championship you have to have different styles. It’s all good trying to play but there will be games where we play bad, or not the game you would expect us to play, and as long as it gets us wins that’s the main thing,” the former QPR man continued.

Bright Osayi-Samuel in Birmingham's friendly win over Barcelona last night ✨ pic.twitter.com/e693iqBeFq

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“We have very athletic players and players who are aggressive, so we try to bully teams and sometimes we have to do that.”

That philosophy will be particularly beneficial to Osayi-Samuel. Rather than making him responsible for everything on the right flank, Birmingham can use his athleticism as part of a more physical approach.

A second chance for Osayi-Samuel

Osayi-Samuel’s first season at Birmingham was not the start he would have wanted, but it does not define his time at the club.

The defender has taken responsibility for his shortcomings, addressed the fitness problems he identified, and has entered the new campaign in much better condition.

At the same time, Birmingham’s tactical adjustment could give him a role that is better suited to his strengths.

That combination could make a significant difference. For the Super Eagles, there is also a benefit.

Nigeria already have competition at right-back, with Ola Aina and other options competing for the position.

A fully fit and consistently performing Osayi-Samuel would give Eric Chelle another experienced option with the athleticism to cope with high-intensity international football.