Belgian football expert explains what Koji Miyoshi will bring to Birmingham City

Koji Miyoshi has become the first Japanese player to join Birmingham City.

The club’s hierarchy view Miyoshi, 26, as a coup signing after beating off competition to bring him to England. Miyoshi wasn’t short of offers after leaving Belgian club Royal Antwerp and could have returned home to Japan, where he began his career with Kawasaki Frontale.

He will add a different dimension to a Blues attack which often struggled to break down deep-lying opponents last season. With excellent balance, technique and a swift change in pace, Miyoshi has qualities some of his new Blues teammates don’t.

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Belgian journalist Claudio Reulens tells BirminghamLive: “He is an attacking midfielder. Miyoshi is very energetic and has a great work rate. He is also a player who has a good sense of where he needs to run. He is also a technical player. He is also flexible and can play as an attacking winger.”

It is that flexibility which no doubt appealed to Blues and John Eustace. Eustace wants to build a physical, combative Blues team, but he’s aware that creative gems are also required.

Miyoshi fits into either of Eustace’s 3-5-2 or 4-2-3-1 formations. You only have to watch the highlights of Japan’s 2-2 draw with Uruguay in 2019 – a game in which Miyoshi bagged a brace – to see how effective he can be in attacking areas.

“With his experience in Belgium he should fit well in the Championship. It’s almost the same type of football,” Reulens added.

Miyoshi spent four years at Antwerp, scoring five goals in 63 league appearances and contributing to Europa League and Europa Conference League campaigns. He was in the process of becoming a key player before an ACL injury ended his season last October.

Reulens concluded: “His 4 years at Antwerp? Miyoshi had some very good moments but he couldn’t make the last step to become a key player. The last season he was very unlucky with injuries.

“He needs to be more consistent. Sometimes he played very, very good and a week later he couldnt keep that level. But he is professional and has a great mentality.”

Professionalism is the bare minimum Eustace and Blues supporters demand. With that guaranteed, Miyoshi should prove popular at St Andrew’s.