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.

Aston Villa 5 Birmingham 1

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

Birmingham manager Alex Mcleish has held talks with Medhi Nafti over his future - and confirmed the midfielder will return to the side for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Everton.

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.

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.

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 midfielder Mehdi Nafti is to put talks over his future on ice until the end of the season.

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.

ALAN CURBISHLEY has warned Dean Ashton he must remain patient as he looks to force his way back into the England squad.

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 manager Alex McLeish is to hold talks with midfielder Mehdi Nafti regarding his future when he returns from African Nations Cup duty.

Birmingham skipper Damien Johnson will be out of action for a fortnight after suffering a depressed fracture of the skull.

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.

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 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.

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 has no fresh major injury problems as Birmingham return to Newcastle for the first time since last season’s 5-1 win in the FA Cup.

Tottenham manager Juande Ramos selected three strikers for today’s Premier League clash with Birmingham.

ERIC BLACK has thrown his weight behind Alex McLeish’s bid to become the new manager of Birmingham City.

LIAM RIDGEWELL was touched by the cruellest hand of fate not once but twice yesterday as Aston Villa stole the plaudits, and the points, in a typically frenetic second city derby.

Birmingham 1 Aston Villa 2

STEVE BRUCE turned the air blue as his “naive” Birmingham side stumbled out of the cauldron of Goodison Park.

Birmingham City are boosted by the return to the squad of striker Mikael Forssell and midfielder Johan Djourou for tomorrow’s trip to Everton.

CAMERON JEROME insisted Steve Bruce must remain as Birmingham manager if Carson Yeung completes his protracted takeover of the club.

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.

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON is already looking forward to Christmas. The Manchester City manager believes the hectic festive programme will give a true indication of how good his side are, although a run of six successive home wins suggests December will not hold any unpleasant surprises.

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

STEVE BRUCE fears he will be sacked as Birmingam manager should prospective new owner Carson Yeung take control of the club.

Birmingham have no fresh worries for the Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce will be forced to make one change from the side which earned a goalless draw at Liverpool for the visit of Manchester United.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is set to name an unchanged side for tomorrow’s Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield.