Blues hit by midfield injury crisis

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce faces a midfield injury crisis for tomorrow’s clash with Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Nicky Butt is unavailable as he is on-loan from Newcastle while David Dunn, Stephen Clemence, Julian Gray, Damien Johnson and Mehdi Nafti are injured.

Muzzy Izzet (Achilles) and Stan Lazaridis (hamstring) have an outside chance of being fit.

Neil Kilkenny, 19, has been put on alert to make only his second Premiership start.

Bruce had hoped to have Mario Melchiot back in the side after the former Chelsea right-back missed the last five games with a knee injury, but the Dutch international is still struggling for fitness and Kenny Cunningham has again been earmarked to fill in as an emergency right-back.

Bruce is seeking special dispensation from the Premier League for his son Alex to take a place in the squad.

Bruce has returned early from a loan spell at Tranmere which had been due to run until January.

Jermaine Pennant retains his place in the squad despite being sent home from training last Sunday.

Provisional squad: Maik Taylor, Tebily, Upson, Cunningham, Martin Taylor, Clapham, Jarosik, Kilkenny, Pennant, Heskey, Forssell, Pandiani, Painter, Birley, Bruce, Vaesen.