Bruce handed quartet boost

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce will have Matthew Upson, Muzzy Izzet, David Dunn and Chris Sutton available after lengthy injury lay-offs for the Barclays Premiership clash at Wigan.

The return to fitness of Dunn and Izzet is timely after Stephen Clemence and Nicky Butt were ruled out of the clash with Paul Jewell’s side with hamstring problems.

Clemence will play no further part in the battle to stay in the top flight but Butt could be back for the derby at Aston Villa on Sunday week.

Mehdi Nafti is unlikely to be called up by Bruce this season despite starting on the comeback trail in the reserves after his cruciate ligament setback in pre-season.

Provisional squad: Maik Taylor, Tebily, Cunningham, Martin Taylor, Sadler, Pennant, Johnson, Dunn, Izzet, Sutton, Upson, Melchiot, Kilkenny, Jarosik, Heskey, Forssell, Campbell, Lazaridis, Latka, Vaesen.