Max Bird wanted to 'get bums off seats' on first Blues start, and sets his next target

Max Bird says he wanted to "entertain and get bums off seats" on his first start for Birmingham City, and the midfielder did exactly that in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Millwall, scoring his first goal for the club and setting up another.

Now he has set himself a target for the next step: more goals.

A late call and a clear job

Bird was told quite late in the day that he would be starting, after August Priske's absence reshaped Blues' attack. Jay Stansfield moved up front and Bird was deployed in the No 10 role, with a specific set of instructions from head coach Chris Davies.

The 26-year-old carried them out perfectly. He collected a header from Jhon Solis and drove forward to score Blues' second, then picked out Stansfield for the third with a pass that took two Millwall players out of the game.

Bird told Birmingham Live: "I wanted to entertain and get bums off seats. That's what I'm in the team to do, especially when I play in the 10. I knew I was going to get a bit of space against a typical Millwall team who are physical."

"When I play in the 10 I'm in the team to create, score goals, assist goals."

Worth the wait

Bird's Blues career began with an injury, and he made just one substitute appearance before October. He came back to find a team in excellent form, now five wins in six Championship games, and had to wait for his chance.

"I've worked hard for the opportunity. I obviously didn't have the ideal start here but when you get your head down, you work hard and try to be the best player in training every day, as long as the preparation is right the rest will take care of itself when the opportunity comes," he said.

"Sniffing out goals"

Bird can play in all three midfield positions, and his display has given Davies something to think about for the No 10 role. The player knows what that would demand of him.

"If I'm going to play in the 10 the next level for me is sniffing out goals," he said. "I've played a bit deeper in my career but that's the next level I need to get to. To suss out goals and where the ball's going to drop in and around the box."

Swansea next at St Andrew's

The win lifted Blues to second in the Championship, above Swansea City, who are the visitors to St Andrew's on Saturday in the last game before the international break. With competition for places hotting up and the team in form, it promises to be a lively afternoon for Blues fans.