Damien Johnson has true Blue spirit

Dec 9 2008 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

David Murphy is unavailable once more and Kemy Agustien is not 100 per cent, also because of groin trouble.

Already sidelined for Blues are long-term victims Garry O’Connor, James McFadden, Gary McSheffrey, Stephen Kelly and Jordon Mutch.

“Murphy couldn’t make the weekend, Larsson had a problem at the weekend,” said McLeish.

“So we’re going to have to be careful with guys, if we keep playing them through little strains, it could lead to something worse and then we lose them for longer periods of time.

“That’s why we have got a big squad, but I’ll tell you what: it’s really stretched just now.”

The problems mean that McLeish may alter the line-up tonight – Cameron Jerome and Mehdi Nafti could come into the reckoning – and the manager is wary of flogging Kevin Phillips into the ground.

“A big part of the Kevin Phillips situation for me is to make sure he stays fresh,” said McLeish.

“We play a lot of games – three games in week usually – in this league and I have to be mindful of that.

“But while Kevin is in great form it’s difficult to leave him out of things.”

BLUES (from): Maik Taylor, Hunt, Parnaby, Queudrue, Jaidi, Martin Taylor, Larsson, Agustien, Quashie, Carsley, Nafti, Johnson, Quincy, Phillips, Bent, Jerome, Doyle.