Lee Bowyer sees 'two different players' in improving Birmingham City man

Three months ago Gary Gardner was at the lowest ebb of his Birmingham City career.

Having received a ridiculous red card for clashing with Josh Magennis away to Hull City the midfielder was contemplating a second suspension in a matter of weeks.

The four game ban rendered him unavailable for seven of a 14-match run at a time when Blues were struggling and badly needed him.

Lee Bowyer was critical, fans were furious, Gardner was contrite – and then he contracted Covid-19 and missed what should have been his comeback game.

It cost him a month of football and took him time to get back into his stride.

However, as he prepares to face a Magennis-less Hull in the return match at St Andrew’s tomorrow, the complexion of his season has changed completely.

He’s not only scored more goals in a single campaign than ever before, he’s worn the captain’s armband and for all the attacking talent that has been installed into the team, Gardner has emerged as a key cog in the middle of the park.

The contrast could not be more stark and Bowyer sees it better than most.

“As a player I see him growing, from the player that I see when I arrived to the player I am seeing now is two different players for me,” the head coach said.

“In possession I see he has improved so much, having the captain’s armband as a local lad has given him that bit more drive maybe. I see him improving every single day.

“I have just said to him ‘That’s my job, that’s why I love doing what I do’.

"Obviously winning is everything to me but as a midfielder myself I came into this job – not just here – to see a player develop and pass on my knowledge.

“I see that will all our players but with Gardner especially, he just keeps getting better and better and hopefully that