The 21-year-old Birmingham City defender hasn't seen any first-team action this season, but that doesn't mean that Will Packwood is struggling. Laura Greene as more on the Massachusetts native.

BY Laura Greene Posted

September 30, 2014

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his way back from a career-threatening injury last season and was rewarded with a new one-year deal over the summer.

However the 21-year-old from Concord, Massachusetts, is yet to be called upon by Birmingham City manager Lee Clark in 2014-15.

With 46 games per Championship campaign, not to mention cup competition, there should be plenty of opportunities for the defender—who has represented the United States at the U-17, U-18, U-20, and U-23 levels—during the season ahead.

In this edition of On the Record, we look back at the ups and downs of Packwood’s burgeoning career and track what fans and managers have been saying about his progress.

After joining the Birmingham City youth set-up as a 14-year-old in 2007 and rising through the academy’s ranks, the versatile six-foot-three defender made his senior debut against Barnet in the first round of the League Cup in August 2012, featuring as a right back in a 5-1 win. Four days later, he started for the Blues in the opening game of the 2012-13 season, playing 63 minutes for Clark’s side.

In the weeks and months that followed, Packwood made four more appearances at right back for Birmingham in league ties, with an away outing in the FA Cup Third Round also recorded against Leeds United on January 5, 2013. It was here at Elland Road that Packwood’s season was brought to an abrupt and painful halt. After landing awkwardly, following an innocuous-looking collision with Leeds striker Luciano Becchio, the then-19-year-old was stretchered off, having broken his fibula and tibia.

“Packwood has suffered a horrendous leg break," Clark told BBC Sport at the time. "It took the gloss off a fantastic performance. Will's young team-mates and friends are distraught, they were in tears.”

Just gutted for Will Packwood. Seems to have the right mentality to push himself through recovery. Good luck. #USMNT — Josh Deaver (@JoshDeaver) January 6, 2013

feel sorry for will packwood, imagine coming from America, through youth and making it into first team then breaking your leg at 19 — lila (@saynotolemo) January 6, 2013

“It happened on our turf, that means we care, no matter whose shirt he was wearing at the time,” typed Leeds fan Pecky10 on fan forum LUFCtalk.com.

Packwood was facing at least nine months of recovery time, with Clark telling the Birmingham Mail on January 7, 2013: “We are all devastated by what happened, to a young lad at the start of his career. But if there is a good thing, that’s it: he’s a young lad, he’s very professional, he will get the best care, but we also know he will do it right in terms of his rehabilitation. And he will come back stronger.”

Going into surgery this morning. Thank you to everybody for all the support I've received! It means so much to me to have you all behind me — William Packwood (@WPackwood) January 6, 2013

Packwood told BCFC.com from his hospital bed, “I want to pull a Blues shirt on again as soon as I possibly can. I know that I’ve got to be a little bit patient because certain things take time but there’s one day that I’m looking forward to and it’s that day.”

On March 19, 2013, Birmingham City press officer Andy Walker told MLSsoccer.com, “He's in for the best-case scenario. He hopes to be off crutches in a couple of weeks.”

Terrific news as US U20 defender Will Packwood ( @WPackwood) announces he can now walk unassisted just 3 months after horrific broken leg — Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) April 2, 2013

After penning a one-year extension to his contract at St. Andrew’s during his rehabilitation, the American youngster defied expectations with his recovery time—eventually making his return after less than eight months out.

Passed my fitness test and am going to integrate into full training now! Only 4-5 months ahead of schedule as well. So excited #returning — William Packwood (@WPackwood) August 4, 2013

Packwood returned to action with Birmingham City’s development side in a game against Barnsley’s under-21s on August 26, 2013. As Birmingham’s under-21 coach Richard Beale said on Yanks-Abroad.com, “He looked exactly back to where he was before. He read the game excellently. He looked fit, strong, and sharp coming from his first half after injury."

On October 17, 2013, Packwood joined then-League Two side Bristol Rovers on a month-long loan. His first game, against Wycombe Wanderers, saw him scoop the Man of the Match award for his assured performance at center back, despite a 1-0 loss.

Huge thanks to all the fans for the MOTM! It's an honour to receive it. Absolutely gutted about the result though. Thought we deserved more. — William Packwood (@WPackwood) October 19, 2013

Three more 90-minute games followed, as did another MOTM award. Needless to say, The Pirates were keen to extend Packwood’s loan deal, and it did.

Upon signing a two-month extension at the Memorial Stadium, then-Rovers boss John Ward told the club’s official website, “We are delighted that Will is extending his spell with us, he is a good player and he is going to grow into a very good player.”

Birmingham City fan Blueboy, commented on fan site BCFC.freeforums.org on November 15, “Really like the lad, hope he can get back to the level he was at prior to his horrible injury and then push on to get a place in the team."

In December, after making a total of eight league appearances with Rovers, Packwood was recalled by Birmingham City. As Blues boss Clark told BBC Sport, it was an opportunity for Packwood to show what he could do for his starting XI:

“I proved last season and proved it this season that young players who come in and do well stay in the team ahead of senior players. I take it as a positive—I use it as a galvanizing effect for young players to say, 'Listen, there are possibilities for you just around the corner so make sure you are ready and when you are in the team make sure you take your chance.'”

Today is 1 yr since my injury. It's not been an easy year...but I'm hugely thankful to be where I am and to have been fully fit so quickly! — William Packwood (@WPackwood) January 5, 2014

Reflecting on his experiences in the southwest, Packwood told BBC Sport, “I'm very grateful to Bristol Rovers. They took a bit of a chance. It's not easy to take a young player coming off a major injury and put him in a League Two scrap.”

Packwood went back into the Blues’ side on January 25, 2014—playing 90 minutes at center back in a 2-1 FA Cup Fourth Round defeat, at the hands of Leicester City. As BCFC.freeforum.com user Quark typed on February 16, 2014, “Packwood is one of the few bright spots this season.”

A run of 11 consecutive Championship games followed, in which Packwood played every minute. His performances did not go unnoticed and the youngster was soon to receive his first call-up to the U.S. men’s national team.

Thank you everybody for the congratulations. So happy and proud to receive my first call up to the USMNT! Ipswich away on Sat first tho! — William Packwood (@WPackwood) February 27, 2014

“Having this Ukraine game is a huge opportunity, mainly for our European-based players," Jurgen Klinsmaan said in February. "You want to give them a chance to show where they are at and what’s going on in their specific situation. It’s great to call in players like Oguchi Onyewu, Will Packwood—his first time to come in...it’s a huge opportunity for all those guys to prove to us that they are eager and hungry to jump on the train to the World Cup.”

Packwood attended Klinsmann’s training camp in Germany and later watched from the bench in his country’s friendly against the Ukraine in Cyprus on March 5, 2014. Weeks later, the youngster had impressed to such an extent that he was voted the Football League’s Young Player of the Month.

Packwood’s club manager hailed the player’s commitment to his return from injury, telling BBC Sport on March 21:

“It was certainly career-threatening. I heard our own club doctor being quoted as saying that. His fibula and tibia were fractured and shattered in different places. It just shows his professionalism, his desire, and courage. Since he came back, he has gone into his regular position at center half and performed admirably. He's a good pro with a great attitude.”

Out of the side for all but one of Birmingham’s remaining 2013-14 fixtures—a 4-2 loss against Blackburn Rovers—the season wrapped up with Packwood firmly back on track, with a one-year contract extension penned in June.

So far in the current Championship campaign, however, Packwood has yet to be called on for Birmingham City. He has not been named part of Clark’s squad, apart from on one occasion, when he warmed the bench in a 2-2 draw against Norwich City on September 20.

However, he has been representing the under-21s. And impressing.

Will Packwood started, played the full 90 minutes and captained Birmingham City's U-21 squad in their 1-1 draw today. #USMNT — Yanks Watch (@yanks_watch) September 22, 2014

WATCH: Check out a sweet strike from @WPackwood for Blues' under-21s on our official YouTube channel: http://t.co/vqEAHKmKUV — Blues TV (@blues_tv) September 27, 2013

The player who represented the United States at the under-17 World Cup and was part of Tab Ramos’ under-20 World Cup squad (before sustaining his injury), has also been recently involved in the international set-up. In August he played for the U.S. under-23 side in a Bahamas-based training camp. As Ramos told ASN on August 12:

“We had an agreement with his club that he’d only play 45 minutes. It was important to have him with us for this game, to be part of the program again, especially because he’s not just part of this but being considered for the first team with Jurgen (Klinsmann). He’s hopefully a big part of where we’re going so a player like that we want to get him any international game we can get in.”

It seems that Packwood is very much on Klinsmann’s radar and could be one of the faces we see boarding a plane to Russia in 2018. Of course, he needs to establish himself in England’s second tier first, but we have a feeling that this could turn out to be his season.