Birmingham captain Damien Johnson will miss the big kick off at Chelsea due to a hamstring injury suffered in the friendly at Walsall a fortnight ago.
Summer signing Rafael Schmitz, on a season long loan from Lille, and fellow defender Mat Sadler are also both sidelined with Achilles problems.
But Blues manager Steve Bruce is poised to include a number of new transfers that included Liam Ridgewell, Stuart Parnaby, Franck Queudrue, Garry O'Connor, Daniel De Ridder and Olivier Kapo in his squad.
Mikael Forssell would lead the attack against his former club after in the end putting a 3 year injury nightmare behind him and looking sharp in pre season.
Team (from) Doyle, Maik Taylor, Kelly, Parnaby, Martin Taylor, Ridgewell, Jaidi, Queudrue, Larsson, Muamba, Nafti, McSheffrey, De Ridder, O'Connor, Forssell, Jerome, Danns, Vine, Kapo, Tebily.
08 08 2007
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is resigned to being without defenders Mat Sadler and Rafael Schmitz for the opening Barclays Premier League fixture at Chelsea Sunday.
Bruce is without captain Damien Johnson (hamstring) however at least has cover for left back Sadler and centre back Schmitz after the recent buy of Franck Queudrue from Fulham and Liam Ridgewell from Villa.
Bruce said, "We signed Schmitz on loan (from Lille) and he hurt his Achilles in his 1st training session and we have not really seen anything at all of him in pre season which is a shame. I cannot see him being available for Sunday. Sadler has got an Achilles problem as well and I cannot see him being available."
Forward Mikael Forssell needed stitches to a head injury suffered at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday however expects to be fit along with defender Stuart Parnaby, who missed the triumph over the Owls with a small knock.
Bruce added, "All in all, to be 30-odd days into pre season, with only 4 or 5 to go, and to have had 2 or 3 niggling injuries however nothing too serious is not bad, thank God."
Bruce would like to bring in another midfield player after abandoning plans to sign Tottenham's Hossam Ghaly and he is mindful of having sufficient strength in depth to combat injuries.
He said, "We went down 2 years ago because 5 or 6 players went down injured and I did not have enough quality in depth. You require a team and you need to keep that team happy. If I can, I would like to get another midfield player in because we are, in my opinion, still a bit short in there."
06 08 2007
Left back Franck Queudrue is determined to make an impact at Birmingham after admitting he did not enjoy the best of relationships with Lawrie Sanchez at Fulham.
Queudrue has moved to St. Andrews in a £2.5 million deal after spending only one season at Craven Cottage and made his debut in Saturday's friendly with Sheffield Wednesday.
The former Boro player will be competing with Mat Sadler, who recently signed a new 3 year deal, for a place in the City defence.
Queudrue said, "I was at Boro for 5 years and we won the Carling Cup and got to the final of the UEFA Cup 2 years ago. I decided after that I needed a change and Chris Coleman had taken me to Fulham however he was fired and Lawrie Sanchez came in. Unfortunately with some gaffers you do not always get on with them too well however that is life and you cannot please everybody. However, I have turned the page on that now, I would like to start a new book with Birmingham and I hope to do well."
Queudrue, who has linked up with former Boro team mate Stuart Parnaby, thinks a strong defence will be vital to Birmingham's chances of staying in the Barclays Premier League after being impressed by manager Steve Bruce.
He said, "I watched Steve Bruce when he used to play however I did not know him as a manager. When he enquired about me, I was interested to speak with him. He explained what he is trying to do with Birmingham and that pleased me. After coming up from the Championship, the 1st aim is to remain in the Premier League and then continue to improve. To do that we must be strong at the back and then, when we get one or 2 chances, we need to put at least one in the back of the net. When you are strong at the back you have more opportunities to win the game. On a personal level I hate losing and I'll never have given up. That is not in my mentality."
The Blues, meanwhile, confirm they have received international clearance for summer transfers Richard Kingson and Daniel de Ridder.
Goalkeeper Kingson and Dutch U21 winger De Ridder expect to be eligible for Sunday's Barclays Premier League opener at Chelsea.
A statement on the club's website said, "Blues have received international clearance for goalie Richard Kingson and winger Daniel de Ridder. Both players were registered with the FA, which meant that they were eligible to play in Saturday's pre season friendly game against Sheffield Wednesday, along with Liam Ridgewell and Franck Queudrue. The club is now only awaiting confirmation of all their registrations from the Premier League and this expects to be received within the next few days. This will mean all members of the playing team will be eligible to take part in Sunday's Premier League trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea."
02 08 2007
Birmingham will sign Villa central defender Liam Ridgewell and Fulham left back Franck Queudrue.
Blues had a £2 million bid for Ridgewell discarded in January and also failed with an attempt to take him on loan before the transfer window closed.
It is thought a £2.5 million offer is in the end set to persuade Villa manager Martin O'Neill to part with the 23 year old.
And Birmingham must splash out the same amount to seal the transfer of the 27 year old Queudrue.
Ridgewell will be the 1st player in the last decade to make a permanent switch between the 2 fierce Birmingham rivals.
The need to have a greater chance of playing 1st team football has persuaded Ridgewell to make the transfer to St Andrews.
And that has left Villa manager Martin O'Neill viewing Norwegian international Brede Hangeland as a probable replacement for Ridgewell.
The 26 year old defender has also been linked with a transfer to Newcastle and is probably going to cost £4 million.
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has stressed his wish to strengthen his defence, particularly with left back Mat Sadler and central defender Rafael Schmitz injured.
He said, "At the moment my priority has to be at the defensive end of the team. Mat Sadler has got a knock and we have not really got anybody to replace him. In the centre back area we have only got 2 at the moment, apart from Rafael Schmitz, who is also injured. That is not very healthy either and we are looking at those 2 positions."
Quedrue's arrival will also have given Bruce competition for places in the left back berth, where his only choice at present is Matt Sadler, who is presently injured.
The Frenchman has a number of Premier League experience to call upon following his transfer to the Riverside Stadium from Lens 5 years ago.
He spent 4 seasons on Teesside, helping Boro win the League Cup in 2004 as well as the final of the Uefa Cup 2 years later before moving to Fulham last summer.
Newcastle have also been linked with Queudrue however Bruce appears to have beat everyone for his signature.
20 06 2007
Mat Sadler has set himself a double target of reclaiming his 1st team spot and keeping Birmingham in the Barclays Premier League after signing a new 3 year contract with the club.
The left back puts pen to paper on a new deal which will keep him at St Andrews until the summer of 2010.
Sadler had 12 months remaining of his existing deal however was rewarded for playing a major part in Blues regaining their top flight status at the 1st attempt.
The former England youth international started 36 games for City in the Coca-Cola Championship before being rested by manager Steve Bruce in the latter part of the season when he ran out of steam.
Sadler, 22, informed the club's official website, bcfc.com, "It is a happy day for me and I am really pleased because in this football climate at the moment you can never really be sure where your next contract is coming from. To get my future secured now for a good amount of years is good so there is nothing for me to worry about. It was only important that we are back in the top division and I am happy that I played a part last season, however I am more looking forward to next season. There is only one actual objective and that is to remain in the Premier League for the year after. You cannot really look any further than that because it could be unrealistic to do so. That could not sound as ambitious a quote as some would like to hear however 1st and foremost survival is what we must achieve."
Sadler added, "From a personal point of view, I only would like to play. I am desperate to play my part. I am more than confident that, given a chance, I will be able to play well in the Premier League and I am looking forward to that challenge. There is a lot to prove for some of the lads and it is a good stage on which to do that."
Sadler initially broke into the Blues 1st team at the age of only 17 during the club's inaugural season in the top flight in 2002-03, that included an appearance against Man Utd at Old Trafford where he found himself up against David Beckham.
But that proved to be his last senior game for more than 3 years as he was plagued by injury problems, that included a careerthreatening ankle problem.
Sadler fought back and returned to the side towards the end of the 2005-06 season and was praised for his performances inspite of the club being relegated from the top flight.
A boyhood Blues fan, he has earned the respect of the fans for his never-say-die attitude even if not playing at his best.
