Gardner may return for Blues

Birmingham midfielder Craig Gardner could return to face his former club Aston Villa in tomorrow’s Carling Cup quarter-final at St. Andrews.

Gardner will have a late fitness test on the ankle injury which sidelined him for the 1-0 win over Chelsea and the 1-1 draw with Fulham.

He could be a straight replacement for Alexander Hleb who has been ruled out of the derby clash.

Hleb gave one of his better performances at Craven Cottage since joining Blues on loan from Barcelona but had to be substituted in the second period with a hamstring injury.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish confirmed he will field a stronger line-up than in the previous rounds.

Provisional Squad: Foster, Taylor, Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Dann, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, Fahey, Jerome, Zigic, Gardner, Murphy, Phillips, Michel, Beausejour, Parnaby, Derbyshire.