Jerome back for Blues

Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome is available after a two-month absence for the Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The England Under-21 international has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury against Portsmouth at St Andrew’s in the second match of the campaign.

Fellow forward Christian Benitez should also be available after missing the 2-1 defeat at Burnley when allowed to return to Ecuador after his father was involved in a car accident.

But Blues boss Alex McLeish has a series of injury worries and fitness doubts including Gregory Vignal, Franck Queudrue, Martin Taylor, Danny Murphy, Teemu Tainio, Giovanny Espinoza, Stuart Parnaby and Keith Fahey.

Team (from): Hart, Maik Taylor, Carr, R. Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Bowyer, Ferguson, Tainio, Carsley, Fahey, McFadden, Jerome, O’Connor, Benitez, Phillips, McSheffrey, O’Shea, D. Johnson.