Johnson misses out for Blues

Birmingham captain Damien Johnson will miss the big kick-off at Chelsea because of a hamstring injury suffered in the friendly at Walsall a fortnight ago.

Summer signing Rafael Schmitz, on a season-long loan from Lille, and fellow defender Mat Sadler are also both sidelined with Achilles problems.

But Blues boss Steve Bruce is poised to include a host of new signings including Liam Ridgewell, Stuart Parnaby, Franck Queudrue, Garry O’Connor, Daniel De Ridder and Olivier Kapo in his squad.

Mikael Forssell could lead the attack against his former club after finally putting a three-year injury nightmare behind him and looking sharp in pre-season.

Team (from) Doyle, Maik Taylor, Kelly, Parnaby, Martin Taylor, Ridgewell, Jaidi, Queudrue, Larsson, Muamba, Nafti, McSheffrey, De Ridder, O’Connor, Forssell, Jerome, Danns, Vine, Kapo, Tebily.