Ljunberg in fitness bid

Freddie Ljungberg will get the chance to prove his fitness for the FA Cup final in Arsenal’s final Barclays Premiership game of the season, away at Birmingham.

The Swedish international is set to return to first team action after undergoing an operation on swollen glands, which were pressing on a nerve and causing pain in his hip.

Ljungberg is likely to be given 45 minutes at St Andrews to prove his cup final credentials, while Thierry Henry is set to be available for a return to the starting line-up.

Henry returned from a groin problem as a second-half substitute in Arsenal’s 7-0 rout of Everton during the week and came through unscathed, though manager Arsene Wenger will delay his final decision until tomorrow.

Lauren is out with blood poisoning and Wenger is considering moving Kolo Toure to fill in at left-back.

Provisional squad: Lehmann, Almunia, Cole, Campbell, Toure, Senderos, Cygan, Vieira, Ljungberg, Gilberto, Edu, Flamini, Fabregas, Reyes, Pires, van Persie, Bergkamp, Henry, Aliadiere.