Tuesday 24 March 2015 17:14, UK
Birmingham's long-term injury victims Matt Green and Gavin Gunning stepped up their recoveries from knee injuries on Monday by featuring for the Under-21s.
Green, who has not featured for Blues' first team since October 2013, and Gunning, who has been out of action since getting injured on his debut in August, both played in a 2-0 win over Ipswich.
Senior professional development coach Richard Beale told the club's official website: "To have got back on the pitch and completed their rehab so well and to be part of a winning team with a good performance at St Andrew's is pleasing.
"They have both been absolutely brilliant, it's a cliche and you might think 'you are going to say that', but they have both got their heads down and ploughed on.
"Matt's had a couple of setbacks which has meant it's taken a little bit longer for him. But he's been sharp in training.
"Both of them have worked really, really hard, they are good pros and I am really pleased they are back.
"Once your first game is under your belt and you are fine you can kick on from here hopefully.
"We've talked about coming back for months on end. With all the staff you try and do things to motivate the players and keep them going when you see them around the place.
"It can become like Groundhog Day, when you are just in the same four walls for weeks and months on end, and then to step out on to grass that's fantastic.
"We have built Matt up saying 'it will be great when you get your first goal'. When he got his first goal in training I made a point of stopping the session and getting everyone to give him a round of applause. Things like that the boys look forward to.
"It would have been nice for him to have got a goal on Monday but he worked hard - and so did Gavin."
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