Birmingham striker Christian Benitez is unlikely to return home from Ecuador for Saturday's Premier League clash at Burnley despite his father being on the road to recovery after a road accident.

Birmingham’s crippling injury list means manager Alex McLeish will call upon every fit and able first-team player at his disposal for tonight’s Carling Cup third-round clash against Sunderland.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish does not have the option of resting players ahead of tomorrow’s Carling Cup third-round trip to Sunderland with his squad ravaged by injury.

Alex McLeish insists Birmingham’s treatment room is “bursting at the seams” ahead of Saturday’s trip to Hull.

Birmingham 0 Stoke 0

ONE positive for Alex Ferguson is that while Manchester United gave their usual below-par opening day performance, at least there were three points to show for it, but he will expect plenty more from his team than they served up yesterday if a record fourth consecutive league title is to be won.

Man Utd 1 Birmingham 0

Wayne Rooney’s first-half tap-in was enough to allow Manchester United to begin the defence of their Barclays Premier League title with a victory over Birmingham.

Birmingham 1 Preston 2

Birmingham 1 Southampton 0

Birmingham 0 Coventry 1

Birmingham remain at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship after a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has promised to “deal with the situation” after Olivier Kapo and Franck Queudrue failed to turn up to the club’s first day back at training.

Birmingham defender Franck Queudrue today said co-owner David Sullivan has apologised for yesterday’s astonishing attack on Blues players.

Birmingham managing director Karren Brady believes the club will bounce back from relegation without change at the top.

Birmingham’s Franck Queudrue jumped to his own defence last night after he was branded “rubbish” by club co-owner David Sullivan.

Birmingham defenders Franck Queudrue and Liam Ridgewell are available after suspension for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Everton tomorrow.

Birmingham defender Franck Queudrue has joined Liam Ridgewell in being suspended for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

Birmingham are likely to be missing James McFadden and Olivier Kapo for the relegation showdown with former Blues boss Steve Bruce this weekend.

Birmingham 3 Manchester City 1

Franck Queudrue has been handed his first Birmingham start for two months in today's home Premier League clash with Manchester City.

Birmingham striker James McFadden has been pencilled in for a comeback in the home Barclays Premier League clash with his former club Everton on April 12.

Birmingham midfielder Olivier Kapo will be out of action for a month after suffering a hamstring injury during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal at St Andrews.

Birmingham’s chief creative force Olivier Kapo will miss the trip to West Ham through suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign against Sunderland 11 days ago.

Birmingham defender Franck Queudrue will be out of action for a fortnight after suffering a hamstring strain.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is refusing to press the panic button despite his side slipping into the bottom three of the Barclays Premier League for the first time this season.

Defender David Murphy is part of the Birmingham squad for the first time since his £1.5m move from Hibernian a fortnight ago.

Huddersfield 2 Birmingham 1

MIKAEL FORSSELL has backed his former international boss Roy Hodgson to keep Fulham in the Premier League.

Ray Lewington believes new Fulham manager Roy Hodgson will be “encouraged” by the performance in a battling 1-1 draw at Birmingham.

Birmingham 1 Fulham 1

Birmingham’s prospective owner Carson Yeung saw former Juventus player Olivier Kapo score a late winner for Steve Bruce’s side against Wigan at St Andrews.

Blackburn 2 Birmingham 1

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce was heartened by his side’s efforts in the 1-0 Premier League loss to Manchester United, insisting he had the best side of his six-year reign at his disposal.

Birmingham 0 Manchester United 1

Goalkeeper Maik Taylor will return to the starting line-up for tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Middlesbrough despite the fine display of Richard Kingson in the midweek Carling Cup tie with Hereford.

Blues manager Steve Bruce may decide to freshen up his side for the Carling Cup clash with Hereford after seeing his international players involved in five matches in 13 days.

Birmingham captain Damien Johnson will miss the big kick-off at Chelsea because of a hamstring injury suffered in the friendly at Walsall a fortnight ago.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is resigned to being without defenders Mat Sadler and Rafael Schmitz for the opening Barclays Premier League fixture at Chelsea on Sunday.

Left-back Franck Queudrue is determined to make an impact at Birmingham after admitting he did not enjoy the best of relationships with Lawrie Sanchez at Fulham.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce decided to pull out of the deal to sign Tottenham midfielder Hossam Ghaly after a training ground incident, according to sources close to the club.

Birmingham have completed the signing of left-back Franck Queudrue from Fulham in a deal which could be worth £2.5m.

Birmingham remain confident of completing the double signing of Aston Villa central defender Liam Ridgewell and Fulham left-back Franck Queudrue for around £2.5m each in the next 24 hours.

Fulham 4 South China 1