Horsfield back for Brom

Former Birmingham striker Geoff Horsfield was restored to the West Brom starting line-up for the derby clash at The Hawthorns.

Horsfield had been incensed when he was a non-playing substitute for the December meeting at St Andrews which Blues won 4-0.

But the ex-bricklayer got the nod ahead of Robert Earnshaw whose agent Mel Eves criticised the treatment of the Welsh international by Bryan Robson in a Sunday newspaper report.

City manager Steve Bruce brought back Emile Heskey to partner Walter Pandiani in attack after he completed a one match suspension.

Jermaine Pennant’s jail term for drink driving offences meant that Salif Diao was included in the side with Damien Johnson reverting to the right flank.

West Brom: Hoult, Albrechtsen, Gaardsoe, Clement, Robinson, Gera, Wallwork, Richardson, Greening, Campbell, Horsfield. Subs: Scimeca, Moore, Chaplow, Kanu, Earnshaw.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Tebily, Cunningham, Upson, Clapham, Johnson, Diao, Clemence, Gray, Pandiani, Heskey. Subs: Vaesen, Lazaridis, Anderton, Blake, Morrison.

Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire)