Birmingham defender Gregory Vignal, who was among the substitutes against Sunderland at the weekend, stepped up his fitness levels by playing 90 minutes for the reserves last night after a recent calf problem.

Birmingham midfielder Lee Boywer has recovered from illness and should be available for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday.

Portsmouth went into the game with a very attack-minded side to face a Birmingham team they beat in the FA Cup on Saturday as manager Avram Grant fielded Frederic Piquionne, Aruna Dindane and Danny Webber from the start.

Birmingham will again be without striker Garry O’Connor and on-loan Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio for the local derby with Wolves at Molineux.

BIRMINGHAM captain Lee Carsley last night slammed Liverpool’s David Ngog for what he described as “an embarrassing case of cheating” after the young striker helped Liverpool earn a point with a controversial penalty.

Steven Gerrard’s hotly-disputed second-half penalty rescued a point for Liverpool but did little to lift the pressure on boss Rafael Benitez.

Fernando Torres has been left out of the Liverpool squad to play Birmingham at Anfield in the Premier League tonight.

Birmingham keeper Maik Taylor will make his first Barclay’s Premier League start of the season against Manchester City at St Andrews on Sunday.

Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome is available after a two-month absence for the Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Birmingham are resigned to being without striker Christian Benitez at Burnley tomorrow.

Birmingham 1 Bolton 2

Birmingham will be boosted by the return of four players after injury for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton tomorrow.

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 boss Alex McLeish handed a debut to Teemu Tainio for the derby clash with Aston Villa.

Birmingham have confirmed the signing of Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio on loan until the end of the season.

Sunderland defender Danny Collins is not expected to be included in the squad for tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Stoke as the Potters attempt to sign him.

SUNDERLAND manager Steve Bruce was full of praise for slimmed-down midfielder Andy Reid after the midfielder’s role in a 4-1 Carling Cup victory at Norwich last night.

Norwich 1 Sunderland 4

Andy Reid is expected back to training with his Sunderland teammates today, after a thigh problem ruled him out of the trip to the Reebok Stadium.

Steve Bruce could include four of his summer signings in his squad when he goes into his first Premier League game as Sunderland boss.

Sunderland midfielder Steed Malbranque is a doubt for the final day clash with Chelsea.

SUNDERLAND manager Ricky Sbragia was again left to rue sloppy defending after his team slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth which keeps them in the relegation mire.

Sunderland arrived on the south coast needing a victory over Portsmouth to guarantee their Premier League survival before tackling Chelsea on the final weekend.

Sunderland full-back George McCartney could return to the squad for the club’s vital Barclays Premier League trip to Portsmouth on Monday evening.

Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio could return to the squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to Bolton.

Sunderland are still without £9m record signing Craig Gordon for their home Premier League game against Everton on Sunday.

A three-goal hammering at the hands of the Premier League’s bottom club would be galling enough at the best of times for Sunderland.

West Brom 3 Sunderland 0

Sunderland's Kieran Richardson is pushing for a recall for the Barclays Premier League trip to West Brom after overcoming a calf injury.

Kieran Richardson is set to return to Sunderland’s side against Hull tomorrow after recovering from a calf injury.

Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia could be without captain Dean Whitehead for tomorrow’s clash with Premier League leaders Manchester United.

Sunderland will be without suspended midfielder Kieran Richardson for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan.

Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio will miss out on a reunion with former club Tottenham tomorrow as he battles against a knee injury.

Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia is hoping to have strikers Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse fit for tomorrow night’s Barclays Premier League trip to Liverpool.

Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley sits out tomorrow’s Premier League clash away to Arsenal through suspension.

Sunderland new boys Calum Davenport and Tal Ben Haim will be included in the squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke.

Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon will play his first game for 10 weeks against Blackburn in the FA Cup tomorrow.

Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia could be without midfielder Teemu Tainio for Sunday’s derby trip to Newcastle.

Sunderland 1 Fulham 0

Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia is expected to turn to his big guns once again for Fulham’s Barclays Premier League trip to the Stadium of Light tomorrow night.

IF a side’s ability to win when they fall well short of their own high standards is a gauge of their ability to compete at the very highest level, Aston Villa’s top four rivals have every right to feel nervous as the season’s end-game approaches.

Sunderland will be without midfielder Steed Malbranque through suspension for tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

OVER half the Premier League has been struck by an identity crisis.