Pandiani set to start

Birmingham striker Walter Pandiani – signed from Deportivo La Coruna after a loan spell last season – is set to get the nod ahead of Mikael Forssell to partner Emile Heskey in tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership opener at Craven Cottage.

Forssell plus midfielder Muzzy Izzet and winger Stan Lazaridis are fit after lengthy injury lay-offs but Blues boss Steve Bruce is mindful of rushing them back into action too soon.

On-loan Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt will make his debut but Mehdi Nafti is out for the season with cruciate ligament damage and Damien Johnson is suspended, although captain Kenny Cunningham has recovered sufficiently from a collapsed lung suffered at QPR a fortnight ago to partner Matthew Upson in defence.

Provisional squad: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Clapham, Pennant, Butt, Clemence, Gray, Pandiani, Heskey, Vaesen, Anderton, Tebily, Forssell, Morrison, Martin Taylor, Lazaridis, Izzet.