STEVE BRUCE has given his backing to Birmingham physio Neil McDiarmid and the club’s medical staff and insisted they should shoulder no blame for the club’s major injury problems during the past 18 months.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce has praised his players for responding to the embarrassing thrashing at the hands of Liverpool last month.

Mohamed Sissoko was back in the Liverpool starting line-up to face Birmingham just a month after the eye injury against Benfica which had left him blind for 36 hours.

Stan Lazaridis has insisted there will be “no bitterness” if Birmingham decide not to renew his contract in the summer.

Birmingham mananger Steve Bruce has admitted there has to be a radical overhaul of his squad this summer if they cling on to their Barclays Premiership status.

Birmingham are set to be without striker Emile Heskey for Monday’s Barclays Premiership clash at West Ham – he is in danger of being suspended for the clash as he faces a Football Association disciplinary hearing today after being charged with misconduct following his sending-off against Arsenal last weekend.

Steve Bruce’s ambition to lead Birmingham to a major trophy could be wrecked ahead of tonight’s FA Cup replay against Reading with up to 15 first team squad members ruled out through injury, suspension or ineligibility.

Birmingham are facing an injury crisis ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup replay with Reading with three players undergoing scans today to determine the extent of injuries sustained against Arsenal at the weekend.

Liverpool 1 Birmingham 1

Liverpool 1 Birmingham 1

Birmingham 5 Portsmouth 0

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce made six changes from the side which overcame Torquay in the midweek FA Cup third round replay for the bottom-of-the-table Barclays Premiership clash with Harry Redknapp’s revamped side.

Birmingham will have to make at least two changes from the side which earned a creditable 2-2 draw with Manchester United for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

Birmingham defender Jamie Clapham is to have an x-ray to determine the extent of the knee problem suffered during last night’s draw with Manchester United.

Turkey international Muzzy Izzet returns from a hamstring injury as beleaguered Birmingham manager Steve Bruce makes five changes for his side’s Boxing Day clash at Tottenham.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce made five changes – three of them enforced - for the crucial Premiership clash with Fulham at St Andrews.

Birmingham 1 West Ham 2

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce has to decide whether to risk playing fit again playmaker David Dunn for the second time in 72 hours against Millwall at the New Den.

Newcastle 1 Birmingham 0

Arsenal had to settle for a two-goal lead at the break against rock-bottom Sunderland as Arsene Wenger’s side threatened to run riot at Highbury.

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer returned to the starting line-up for this afternoon’s clash with Birmingham after being rested last weekend.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce faces a midfield injury crisis for tomorrow’s clash with Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Steve Bruce has admitted he may look for support from the Birmingham board for a January spending spree because of the club’s crippling injury list.

Blackburn 2 Birmingham 0

Birmingham midfielder David Dunn is poised to return to action in next Monday’s reserve match against West Brom after seven months on the sidelines.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce is keeping his fingers crossed he can unleash talisman Emile Heskey on Portsmouth at Fratton Park tomorrow.

Birmingham striker Walter Pandiani – signed from Deportivo La Coruna after a loan spell last season – is set to get the nod ahead of Mikael Forssell to partner Emile Heskey in tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership opener at Craven Cottage.

Steve Bruce has revealed Birmingham midfielder Mehdi Nafti is likely to miss the whole season through injury.

Norwich 1 Birmingham 0

Birmingham hope to be boosted by the return of left-back Jamie Clapham for tomorrow’s clash with Blackburn at St Andrews.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce believes it is important for Muzzy Izzet to return to action before the end of the season “for his own peace of mind”.

Everton boss David Moyes sprung a surprise by including record signing James Beattie in the starting line-up for the first time since the striker’s red card against Chelsea on February 12.

Stan Lazaridis is hoping his injury nightmare is behind him – and the Birmingham winger has set his sights on playing a major role in the final two months of the season.

Muzzy Izzet is optimistic that his injury nightmare is coming to an end and the Birmingham midfielder has his sights on a return to action before the end of the season.

Steve Bruce has admitted that he will have to adopt a softly softly approach with veteran Birmingham winger Stan Lazaridis after an injury-plagued season.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has admitted there is “light at the end of the tunnel” in terms of the fitness of midfielder Muzzy Izzet.

West Brom gave themselves a relegation lifeline as goals from Neil Clement and Kevin Campbell moved them off the bottom for the first time since the end of November.

Emile Heskey returns from suspension as Birmingham travel to local rivals West Brom on Sunday with right-back Mario Melchiot also back in action.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists there will be no shame if they are knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona next month.

Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan has promised another major influx of new signings in the summer.

Birmingham are confident they have won the race to sign Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao on loan for the remainder of the season despite an 11th-hour bid from Aston Villa.

Robbie Savage looks to have played his last game for Birmingham with a move to Blackburn set to go ahead sooner rather than later.

Newcastle 2 Birmingham 1