On 2 July 2022, amid rumours of an imminent takeover of the club, head coach Lee Bowyer was sacked,[2] to be replaced the following day by John Eustace.

There were four debutants: John Ruddy in goal and three loanees, Dion Sanderson, in his second loan spell with the club, and Auston Trusty in central defence, and Przemysław Płacheta at wing-back.

Ryan Woods, Jordan James, and Juninho Bacuna formed the midfield, and the forwards were Scott Hogan and captain Troy Deeney.

[14][15] Source: [16] As with all teams in the top two divisions, Birmingham entered the competition in the third round, in which they were drawn away to League One club Forest Green Rovers.

[65] Birmingham made seven changes from their previous starting eleven for the first-round visit to fellow Championship club Norwich City; the three-man central midfield comprised Jordan James, a first-team regular at just 18, Alfie Chang (19), and Jobe Bellingham, the 16-year-old brother of England international Jude.