Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has admitted he does not know whether striker August Priske will be fit for the Halloween Championship fixture against Lincoln City.

Priske, the Blues' joint-top scorer with four goals in the second tier this season, felt something in his body during the Queens Park Rangers match and attempted to run it off before the problem worsened. He was withdrawn and replaced by Luis Vazquez in the subsequent 1-0 defeat to Cardiff.

"He felt something in the game last week that he was trying to run off and it developed into something that was too much of a risk to continue with," Davies told BBC Radio WM. "Hopefully he's around for the next one, but if not then the one after that."

The Birmingham manager left little doubt about how important the Dane is to his side's attacking play. "You could see his presence, quality and mobility up there was amiss," Davies said, describing the loss of Priske during Saturday's fixture as "a blow".

At 6ft 5in, Priske offers Birmingham a physical option that few Championship defences relish. He joined the club in January from Swedish top-flight side Djurgarden and has since contributed four goals and one assist in the second tier, sharing the club's top-scoring honours. His height and movement in behind give Birmingham a different dimension, and his absence against Cardiff was visibly felt as the side failed to find a way through.

The timing is awkward. Lincoln arrive at St Andrew's on the back of a turbulent spell of results, and Davies will be conscious that his own side's momentum from their recent nine-point run must not stall. Without Priske leading the line, the weight of attacking responsibility shifts notably: Vazquez showed willing as a replacement at Cardiff but Davies has built his front-line around Priske's specific attributes this term.

Should the striker miss the Lincoln fixture, Davies has options to adapt. Vazquez demonstrated he can fill the role at short notice, and Birmingham's wider squad depth has grown since the summer. However, sustaining a push for the automatic promotion places demands consistency at the top of the pitch, and losing a player who has contributed to nearly a goal per game across his Championship appearances would test any manager's planning.

Lincoln, who put four past Burnley in their first home win of the season, will arrive with confidence of their own, making the fitness verdict on Priske all the more significant for the shape of the contest. Davies is expected to provide a further update on the striker's condition ahead of kick-off on Thursday evening.

Frequently asked

Is August Priske fit for Birmingham's game against Lincoln?
Manager Chris Davies says Priske picked up a knock during the QPR match and his availability for the Lincoln fixture is uncertain. Davies hopes to have him back either for that game or the one after.
How many goals has August Priske scored for Birmingham this season?
Priske has scored four Championship goals and added one assist this season, making him joint-top scorer at the club.
When do Birmingham City play Lincoln City?
The two Championship sides meet in a Halloween fixture, with Davies expected to give a further update on Priske's fitness closer to kick-off.