Birmingham City wideman Ayumu Yokoyama was back in the team for the 4-0 win over Shrewsbury Town
Chris Davies was pleased with Ayumu Yokoyama’s contribution in Birmingham City’s thumping 4-0 win over Shrewsbury Town after drafting the Japanese winger in from the cold to play his first game in five weeks.
Yokoyama hadn’t featured for Blues since their last Bristol Street Motors Trophy outing against Walsall on September 3 before taking to the field at The Croud Meadow. The 21-year-old produced a lively showing on the left flank for Blues, even if attacking colleague Scott Wright grabbed the headlines with two goals and an assist.
“He’s young and he’s adapting,” Blues manager Davies commented afterwards. “You see the danger he causes one versus one. There’s not many more dangerous than him because he can go both ways and he actually has quality when he creates the gap and space for himself. He’s adapting to the style of football here. The ball gets forward quite early and you need to get back.
“I was pleased with his performance. Coming in having not been getting in squads even is really tricky, and I thought he handed it really well.”
Davies recently revealed Blues have employed a translator to support Yokoyama’s adaptation to life in Birmingham. The translator accompanied Blues to Shrewsbury and is present on the training pitches and in team meetings to ensure Yokoyama understands Davies’ messages.
Davies added: “We’ve got a translator now who comes into training and meetings and he speaks to the Japanese boys after I’ve spoken to relay the messages. He’s on the training pitch to give some key messages.
“That’s been happening in the last couple of weeks which has helped him to adapt more. But it is hard. If you imagine going over to Japan at 20 years old, how difficult it would be. There’s an adaption process going on and I’ve seen it many times before, but with the raw materials and the raw quality, you can see a bright future for Ayumu, absolutely.”