Birmingham have Foster worry

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is hopeful goalkeeper Ben Foster will have recovered from the back spasm suffered on England duty to make his debut against Sunderland at the Stadium Of Light.

City’s other major summer signing, Serbia striker Nikola Zigic, is also included in the squad.

Defender Stuart Parnaby has been declared fit after sustaining a hamstring injury 10 days ago meaning veteran striker Kevin Phillips is the only major absentee with the torn thigh muscle which will sideline him for four to six weeks.

Birmingham (provisional squad): Foster, Carr, Parnaby, Murphy, Ridgewell, Dann, Johnson, Larsson, Gardner, Bowyer, Ferguson, Michel, Mutch, Fahey, McFadden, Valles, Jerome, O’Connor, Zigic, Taylor, Doyle.