Birmingham wait on Johnson and Ridgewell

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is hopeful key defenders Roger Johnson and Liam Ridgewell will be fit for the home Barclays Premier League clash with leaders Chelsea on St Stephen's Day.

Centre-back and lifelong Chelsea fan Johnson and left-back Ridgewell suffered knee and ankle knocks respectively during the 1-1 draw with Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Johnson has been ever present in City’s 18 league games since his £5m move from Cardiff during the summer while Ridgewell has impressed since being converted from a central defender into his current role.

If the duo recover, Birmingham are expected to be unchanged for the seventh successive game.

Provisional squad: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden, Jerome, Benitez, Maik Taylor, Fahey, Vignal, Carsley, Phillips, McSheffrey, Damien Johnson, Queudrue, Parnaby.