This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Cheick Keita has been working his way back from an ankle injury and must "get up to speed" before he becomes a regular for Birmingham City, says manager Pep Clotet.

On the chalkboard

The Spaniard told the Birmingham Mail that he sees the French-born player as more of a left-winger than a left-back in the Championship. However, Keita is versatile enough to play in both positions as he showed during his time in Belgium with KAS Eupen. Of those games in which his position was recorded by Transfermarkt, the Mali U20 international played 14 times at left-wing for them, which resulted in him scoring once and providing an assist.

He hasn't played for the club since they lost to Aston Villa in 2017, but Clotet has told reporters he will be given a chance to prove his abilities to the team.

He added: "Physically he needs to get up to speed and then it will be up to me if I think he can help us.

"I see him more as a winger than as a full back, that is what we work on here, I see him more as a left winger than as a left back for the Championship."

Keita has not played in a game since Septemeber 9, where he and the U23s lost to their Bristol City counterparts. In that game, the winger hobbled off the pitch following a nasty challenge which has made him wait even longer for a return.

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Not quite done enough yet

In terms of playing as a left-back for the Blues, it would be a tough task to keep Kristian Pedersen out of the side because of his form this season. The Dane has played every minute so far, pitching in with a goal and averaging an impressive rating of 7.22.

As a winger, Keita has scored just that one goal and assist in Belgium and has actually played 66 more times as a left-back, of those matches where his position was recorded by Transfermarkt, which has resulted in him bagging two goals and four assists.

There is also the realisation that if Clotet wants to play the 23-year-old as a winger, it may result in a formation change. As demonstrated by Sky Sports, the Blues have often set up in a 4-4-2, with left-sided midfielders, as opposed to wingers in a 4-3-3. Whilst Keita would still be able to adapt to this role, as he played there 11 times in his career, it may alter the team too much just for one man.

Quite frankly, his loan spells were not particularly impressive and considering he has not played for the first-team for two years, drafting him in so soon may be a mistake. Keita should continue working with the U23s and settle for some substitute appearances for the time being.