Bruce hopeful on Heskey fitness

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce is keeping his fingers crossed he can unleash talisman Emile Heskey on Portsmouth at Fratton Park tomorrow.

Heskey, 27, is rated at only 50-50 due to the ankle injury he suffered against Charlton last weekend.

But Bruce is desperate to have Heskey available after admitting the former Liverpool marksman is vital to his plans.

Bruce, who admits he needs a change of luck on the injury front after his squad has been hit by long-term absences for the last two years, said: “He has been vital to us.

“You can see how important he is to us with the two goals he scored when we beat West Brom recently.

“He is the focal point of the team. So we are keeping our fingers crossed that he will be okay.

“We all know that when you go over on your ankle it all depends how severe it is.

“But he has been able to do some work this week and if he is fit he will play.

“He has been able to run and sprint and jump but he has yet to go and kick the ball.”

While Heskey’s problem is only a minor one, it continues an amazing run of injury problems for Bruce.

Mikael Forssell, Muzzy Izzet, Stan Lazaridis and David Dunn have all been sidelined by long-term injuries, while Mehdi Nafti has been the latest player to be struck down by the jinx after damaging cruciate knee ligaments in a friendly against Deportivo La Coruna.

Bruce added: “I have not been able to name my first choice line-up for 18 months because of injury and suspension.

“It has been well documented that we have had five serious injuries keeping players out for six months.

“We have seen Arsenal struggle without Thierry Henry. We know how difficult it can be missing one player, so to be without five speaks for itself.

“Izzet, Forssell, Dunn, Lazaridis and Nafti are all vital players.

“I feel like a long playing record keep talking about injuries. It does my head in.

“We have looked into our injury problems and the way that we train, but all of our injuries are happening in games.

“These things happen and it is part and parcel of the game. We are unfortunate and we due a bit of luck in that respect.

“The injuries, without question, have hampered us. You only have to look at the results when Dunny is in the team compared to when he isn’t. It is quite disturbing. But I am not looking for excuses.”

Forssell, Izzet and Lazaridis will all figure in the squad at Fratton Park as Birmingham seek to extend their unbeaten away run.

Portsmouth are also struggling for form, but Bruce knows his side will be in for a severe test.

He said: “The report I had from Everton last week was that they thoroughly deserved to win.

“They played really well on the day and we always know that going to Portsmouth is a difficult game.

“I keep saying every week that every team has got someone who can hurt you. Portsmouth have the likes of Lomana LuaLua and Laurent Robert and it will be a difficult game.

“But it is one where we are capable of getting a result from, that’s for sure.”

While Birmingham are unbeaten on the road this season they have lost all three of their home games.

Bruce added: “Our results at home have been hugely disappointing.

“I have to say that we were poor against Middlesbrough but I felt that we deserved something from the games against Manchester City and Charlton.

“To lose three home games puts everyone on the back foot and I have got to be honest about that.

“But away from home our form has been good and let’s hope we can keep that going at Portsmouth.”