Powell to keep watch on Pennant

Veteran Charlton defender Chris Powell plans to give Birmingham winger Jermaine Pennant a run for his money should the pair go head-to-head again at The Valley this weekend.

Points will be a necessity for both out-of-form teams on Saturday, with the Blues scrapping for their survival and the Addicks looking for what would be only a third win in 11 Barclays Premiership matches.

Nevertheless, former Arsenal starlet Pennant, who turns 23 on Sunday, remains a potent attacking weapon, with his surging runs down the flank providing plenty of ammunition for target man Emile Heskey and new signing Chris Sutton, who is set to make his Blues debut after joining from Celtic.

Powell has already seen the winger’s talents at close proximity this season, helping Charlton secure a 1-0 win at St Andrews in September.

The 36-year-old former England international expects Pennant to try to give him the run around again when the Blues travel to south-east London.

“Pennant is an exceptional player. His crossing ability is great and his delivery can be fantastic at times,” Powell declared.

“He scored against Wigan in his last Premiership game, so he is a good outlet for them.

“If you let him get the balls into the box, they have got Emile Heskey there, who is a key player for them, so I’m going to have to be on my guard.”

Powell said in the Kentish Times: “If I am in the team, I am going to have to make sure I keep his crosses down to a minimum.”

Charlton secured a morale-boosting 4-2 win at Sheffield Wednesday in their FA Cup third-round tie last weekend.

It was a welcome break from the Premiership with the Addicks having slipped down the table from the second place they occupied after a flying start to the campaign.

Now Powell sees no reason why Alan Curbishley’s men cannot take full advantage of a Birmingham team whose win over Wigan on January 2 was a first in five league games and were held goalless draw by League Two strugglers Torquay in the cup.

He said: “It is a really good chance for us to get the three points, because Birmingham have not been performing and hopefully we can carry on from last Saturday’s result.

“We are in the bottom half now and we are really a top-10 side when we are on form.”

Midfielder Danny Murphy missed the cup game at Hillsborough with a hamstring worry but is expected to return to the squad against Birmingham despite speculation over a potential move to Newcastle or Manchester City showing little sign of abating.

Winger Jerome Thomas sat out the hectic festive schedule with a virus but turned out for the second string in their 3-0 win over Chelsea on Monday and is likely to be back in first-team contention.

On-loan Russian midfielder Alexei Smertin faces a fitness test on his niggling knee injury while striker Jay Bothroyd is playing again following his health scare after suffering a blackout when driving.

The future of wantaway midfielder Jason Euell, meanwhile, could be decided in the next few days with both Birmingham and Portsmouth reported to be interested in offering the Jamaica international, valued around £1.5m (€2.2m), the chance to resurrect his career.