Ridgewell set for Blues return

Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell is poised to return for the Barclays Premier League clash with Everton at Goodison Park on St Stephen's Day.

Ridgewell was forced to miss City’s last match, against Wolves nearly two weeks ago, through illness and was replaced by David Murphy.

Midfielder Alexander Hleb has returned to training after being sidelined for almost a month with a hamstring injury suffered in the 1-1 draw at Fulham.

Blues boss Alex McLeish has to decide whether the on-loan Barcelona player has regained sufficient sharpness to be involved in some capacity against the Toffees.

Birmingham will be looking to avenge the only home league defeat they have suffered in the last 15 months – 2-0 to Everton at St Andrew’s in October.

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