Birmingham midfielder Damien Johnson is in contention to start his first Premier League game of the season at home to Reading on Saturday.The Northern Ireland international has shaken off long-term hamstring problems and could replace Mehdi Nafti who has to serve a one-game ban for incurring five bookings.

Blues boss Alex McLeish has to decide whether to give the captain's armband to Johnson, who was skipper last season, or Liam Ridgewell who has occupied the role during the first four months of the campaign.

Central defender Johan Djourou is still struggling to overcome a pelvic problem and has only a slim chance of being sufficiently fit.

Blues (from): Taylor, Kingson, Doyle, Kelly, Ridgewell, Schmitz, Sadler, Larsson, De Ridder, Muamba, Johnson, McSheffrey, Kapo, Jerome, Forssell, O'Connor, Queudrue, Danns, Parnaby, Djourou.

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