Hernandez, Bacuna and Taylor - What the transfer window means for Birmingham City's best XI

For a couple of months of this season Lee Bowyer’s tactical hands have been tied by injury and suspension limiting the formations the Birmingham City head coach has had available to him.

The situation was particularly pronounced in attack where at times Tahith Chong, Troy Deeney, Ivan Sanchez and Lukas Jutkiewicz were all injured.

Maxime Colin’s Achilles problem meant Blues had to shoehorn a winger in at wing back and off-setting suspensions for Ryan Woods and Gary Gardner caused Bowyer a real head ache for a few weeks.

However, with new attacking options added to the squad and the imminent returns of Chong, Taylor Richards and Troy Deeney - as well as the additions of Onel Hernandez, Juninho Bacuna and Lyle Taylor the team is hopefully nearing a point where there’s real competition for places.

That will also give Bowyer plenty of set-ups from which to choose.

A couple of things stand out - how Blues don't have that many options in defence - and how they have almost too many in attack.

Here’s a look at the many, many permutations.

Blues played a diamond at Derby with Onel Hernandez at the top and Ryan Woods at the base. The effect on Woods of having players in space to pass to was clear for all to see.

Bowyer has had joy with the diamond at both Blues and Charlton and it’ll remain a horse for a particular course going forward.

But what’s the best combination?

The system served Blues well at the end of last season - and was working OK until Chong and Maxime Colin got injured.

Bowyer will keep this formation in his locker, with several options at No. 10 able to make it work now.

Bowyer has also used 4-4-2, albeit only sporadically last season. He certainly has the option to go that way this term too.

The arrivals of