Heskey worry for Blues

Birmingham are set to be without striker Emile Heskey for Monday’s Barclays Premiership clash at West Ham – he is in danger of being suspended for the clash as he faces a Football Association disciplinary hearing today after being charged with misconduct following his sending-off against Arsenal last weekend.

Northern Ireland international midfielder Damien Johnson is banned, Martin Taylor and Kenny Cunningham who have ankle and groin problems respectively, while fellow central defender Matthew Upson is under treatment for a knee injury.

David Dunn has a calf problem, Neil Kilkenny is struggling with a twisted ankle, Stan Lazaridis has a groin problem and Olivier Tebily has twisted his knee – but Martin Latka and Dudley ‘DJ’ Campbell return to the squad after being ineligible for the midweek FA Cup defeat of Reading.

Provisional squad: Maik Taylor, Vaesen, Melchiot, Painter, Latka, Bruce, Clapham, Pennant, Clemence, Gray, Heskey, Sutton, Forssell, Campbell, Birley, Oji, Sadler, Allen, Alsop.