Nafti back for Blues

Birmingham midfielder Mehdi Nafti has successfully returned to action after eight months out with cruciate ligament damage.

The 27-year-old, who still hopes to stake a late claim for a place in Tunisia’s World Cup squad, completed an hour of the reserve-team match with Liverpool last night with no ill effects.

“I have to prove to myself first that I can get back to where I was before,” he said.

“After that, I would like to help Birmingham before the end of the season, to save them from relegation. Then after that I will speak with the national manager.”

Birmingham’s reserves lost 1-0 following a last-minute winner from 17-year-old winger Paul Anderson.