Birmingham central defender Radhi Jaidi has admitted the stakes could not be higher as he prepares to “go to war” in tomorrow’s crucial clash at relegation rivals Fulham.

Birmingham will give late fitness tests to right-back Stephen Kelly and midfielder Mehdi Nafti before finalising the team for tomorrow’s crucial showdown with relegation rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Birmingham 2 Liverpool 2

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish made three changes from the side thrashed 5-1 by Aston Villa for the home clash with Liverpool.

Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson is poised to return to action for the Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool at St Andrews tomorrow.

MARTIN O’NEILL raised more than a few eyebrows when he purchased Ashley Young for £9 million (€11.4m) just over a year ago, but the doubters have suddenly fallen silent.

Birmingham City will give late fitness tests to striker James McFadden and midfielder Sebastian Larsson before manager Alex McLeish finalises his side for Sunday’s derby at Aston Villa.

Birmingham 1 Everton 1

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

STEVE BRUCE is as good as certain to be a Premier League manager again next season. His former employers should take note of that, for he might yet achieve it at their expense, and the final cost could run to millions of pounds.

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

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

Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell will be unavailable for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City as he begins a two-game suspension.

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.

READING’S defenders can sleep again. Marcus Hahnemann, the club’s colourful American goalkeeper, has been alarmed at his team’s slide towards the bottom three this season and has not been shy in venting his frustration at his team-mates.

Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson is winning his battle to be fit for the Barclays Premier League bottom-six clash at Reading.

Birmingham defender Martin Taylor will serve the third game of a three-match ban for his sending off against Arsenal for the visit of Newcastle on Monday.

TWO goals from Jermain Defoe and further efforts from Hermann Hreidarsson and Kanu enabled FA Cup semi-finalists Portsmouth to sink struggling Birmingham in the Barclays Premier League last night.

Birmingham striker Mikael Forssell is hoping his future can be resolved before the end of the season.

MIKAEL Forssell’s first hat-trick in English football undoubtedly owed a debt to Tottenham’s party hangover, but that didn’t curtail his own celebrations after the most memorable afternoon of his career.

Birmingham will be without central defender Martin Taylor who will begin a three-game ban for his red card against Arsenal in the incident where Eduardo suffered a broken leg.

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 manager Alex McLeish will postpone contract talks with midfielder Mehdi Nafti and goalkeeper Maik Taylor to fully focus on the battle for Premier League survival.

Birmingham central defender Martin Taylor has set his sights on staying in the side and remaining with the midlands club on a long-term basis.

ANDY RITCHIE might not be the ideal person to ask when it comes to discussing the romance of the FA Cup, not least because the Huddersfield Town manager’s heart was broken by it no less than four times during his playing career.

Huddersfield 2 Birmingham 1

Birmingham skipper Damien Johnson is a fitness doubt for the Barclays Premier League clash at Old Trafford on New Year’s Day.

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

ALEX MCLEISH was in a bullish mood after watching Birmingham beat Middlesbrough 3-0 at St Andrews to chalk up their biggest win of the season.

Birmingham are boosted by the return of skipper Liam Ridgewell for the St Stephen's clash with Middlesbrough at St Andrew’s.

BIRMINGHAM manager Alex McLeish has warned his players they will pay with their places if they do not learn from Saturday’s error-strewn display at Bolton.

Bolton 3 Birmingham 0

Birmingham will be without Liam Ridgewell for the trip to Bolton with the central defender having to serve a one-match ban for incurring five bookings this season.

ALEX MCLEISH believes Mikael Forssell will play a decisive role in Birmingham’s bid to stay in the Premier League — if he can remain fit.

Birmingham defender Johan Djourou will have a fitness test on his hamstring injury ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan at St Andrews.

Birmingham defender Johan Djourou is a major fitness doubt for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League game with Manchester City at Eastlands.

Birmingham skipper Damien Johnson is the only injury absentee for the Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton tomorrow.

Middlesbrough 2 Birmingham 0

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 will give late fitness tests to striker Mikael Forssell and central defender Johan Djourou ahead of the Premier League clash with Derby at Pride Park.

Matthew Upson had the last laugh on the the Birmingham boo-boys as Mark Noble’s second half penalty secured victory for the Hammers.

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 lauded the contribution of DJ Campbell after the second-half substitute netted a brace in the Blues’ comprehensive win over Coventry at St Andrews.