Grainger misses Magpies clash

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce will be without left-back Martin Grainger for Saturday’s tea-time Premiership clash with Newcastle.

Grainger picked up a calf strain against Middlesbrough last weekend but then also suffered a knee problem when undergoing rehabilitation work.

Darren Carter, Curtis Woodhouse and Darryl Powell, recently signed on a short term contract, are in contention to deputise.

Olivier Tebily and Michael Johnson are also definitely ruled out while Stan Lazaridis and Bryan Hughes have been undergoing treatment.

Birmingham (provisional): Vaesen, Kenna, Cunningham, Purse, Carter, Woodhouse, Powell, Devlin, Cisse, Savage, Damien Johnson, Morrison, John, Bennett, Horsfield, Lazaridis, Kirovski, Hughes.