As Kieran Dowell follows in the footsteps of Ben Davies and Scott Wright, the path between Rangers and Birmingham City is becoming one increasingly well-travelled.
For the third time since the start of last summer, a player out of favour at Ibrox made the trip from Glasgow to England’s second city.
The writing was on the wall when Philippe Clement promoted Bailey Rice above Kieran Dowell in the Rangers pecking order this month – he was left out in favour of the 18-year-old against Aberdeen, Fraserburgh and Dundee United – so there was a sense of inevitability about his eventual departure.
And, arguably, his destination too.
Birmingham, under the stewardship of former Celtic assistant Chris Davies, can go five points clear at the top of the League One table tonight if they beat Huddersfield and title rivals Wycombe Wanderers slip up against Barnsley.
Kieran Dowell tasted promotion at both Sheffield United and Norwich City, with Davies hoping his addition will be a good omen at St Andrews. The former Everton youngster also brings an intelligence and a creativity in the attacking midfield positions.
Something which could also come in very handy at a Birmingham team who, with a relatively modest 43 goals to their name this season, have often struggled to unlock deep-lying defensive units.
Birmingham City boss ‘excited’ to sign Kieran Dowell from Rangers
“I was excited when Kieran Dowell’s name was mentioned, as I have followed his career since he was young,” Davies tells the media ahead of Birmingham’s trip to Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night.
“He has got creativity and invention in his game, which I feel like is something the team could do with. He is good in those little pockets and has that cleverness, can play a disguised pass too.
“He has promotions on his CV and experience at some top clubs, which bodes well with the expectations we have here this season.”
Already at St Andrews, former Rangers winger Scott Wright scored on his Birmingham City debut back in August. He has not found the net since, however, with injuries limiting his impact.
Gers loanee Davies has been a far more regular fixture on his namesake’s team sheet, in contrast. Birmingham have not lost any of their last 14 games in which the one-time Liverpool benchwarmer has featured.
And Dowell, who also joins on an initial loan deal, jumped at the chance to return to English football. He is crying out for a fresh start having being included on Philippe Clement’s team sheet for only two Premiership matches at Rangers this term.
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Dowell ‘buzzing’ as he leaves Ibrox in search of regular minutes
“I am buzzing to get going. It has happened really fast but I spoke to [director] Craig Gardner and Chris Davies and they are both so ambitious,” Dowell told BluesTV.
“The lads here are absolutely flying at the moment and there is a really positive feel about the place.
“It is a good chance for me to come and play football, come and play for a team who like to dominate the ball.
“I have always thrived playing in teams that like to control the ball. And, speaking to the manager, I was completely sold with the way he wants to play.”
