CHRIS Hughton has saluted Marlon King’s determination to do his bit for the Birmingham City cause.

King missed two games after limping off against Watford on January 21 with a groin strain.

Since his return, he hasn’t looked totally 100 per cent.

But the 11-goal top scorer has got himself out there on the pitch, with Nikola Zigic struggling to recover from a knee problem.

“Fair play to Marlon, he has played through a bit, he does put himself through it.

“I thought about taking him off the other night, but what he can give you is something.

“He can always produce something. Certainly with his back to goal, if we get that ball to him around the box he can generally produce something.

“That’s why I left him on, because of what he can do.

“He’s certainly doing a good stint for the team at the moment.”

With the postponed Barnsley game now rearranged for Tuesday, King is to be kept back from tomorrow’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at Chelsea.

Zigic won’t make Stamford Bridge.