Bruce has defensive blues

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce faces another defensive selection headache for the New Year’s Day clash with Leeds at Elland Road.

Kenny Cunningham, the lynchpin of Birmingham's back four this season, is the latest casualty with the hamstring injury suffered against Manchester United on Saturday set to keep the Ireland skipper side-lined for four to six weeks.

Bruce is already without crocked defenders Steve Vickers (ankle), Olivier Tebily (knee) and Martin Grainger (hamstring) for the trip to Yorkshire, plus Darren Purse who is suspended, but also is carrying an ankle problem.

Midfielder Damien Johnson (back) and Stan Lazaridis (leg) are also almost certain to be ruled out, while striker Geoff Horsfield needs a hernia operation.

Key midfielder Aliou Cisse has played at centre-back in his career, while youngster Jonathan Hutchinson and former Derby skipper Darryl Powell – whose short term contract ends on January 1 – could come into contention to fill the role.

Provisional squad: Vaesen, Kenna, M Johnson, Sadler, Devlin, Cisse, Savage, Morrison, Kirovski, Morrison, Bennett, Horsfield, Hughes, Powell, Woodhouse, Hutchinson, Carter, D Johnson, Fagan, Lazaridis.