Barnsley v Birmingham preview

Last updated: 20th February 2012   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Barnsley v Birmingham preview

King: Could feature for Birmingham

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Team news ahead of Tuesday night's Championship clash between Barnsley and Birmingham at Oakwell.

Barnsley teenager Paul Digby is hoping to make his first senior appearance at Oakwell.

Tykes manager Keith Hill has hinted the 17-year-old midfielder, who made his only appearance to date off the substitutes' bench at Derby in September, could be included in his squad as cover for David Perkins.

Perkins sustained a hamstring injury during Saturday's home win over Portsmouth and is expected to be sidelined for three weeks.

But recent signing Stephen Dawson could make his first appearance for the club. The former Leyton Orient skipper, sidelined with an ankle injury, could start on the bench, while latest recruit, David Cotterill, could also make his first appearance.

Cotterill was an unused substitute on Saturday, but Hill could be tempted to rest Jim O'Brien, who made his first appearance since Boxing Day against Portsmouth.

Defender Bobby Hassell is still out with knee trouble.

Marlon King could feature for Birmingham but skipper Stephen Carr has joined Nikola Zigic and Guirane N'Daw on the sidelines.

King's niggling groin injury ruled him out of Saturday's stirring 1-1 FA Cup draw at Chelsea although the striker looks set to return to contention as Blues refocus their efforts on promotion.

Right-back Carr was making only his second appearance since December when he was forced off after just 12 minutes at Stamford Bridge having sustained another knee injury, with replacement Jonathan Spector to revert to defensive duties once again from the off.

Striker Zigic (knee) and midfielder N'Daw (hamstring) are both also set to continue to miss out.

Manager Chris Hughton made a total of five changes to his starting line-up against Chelsea and the likes of goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, centre-back Steven Caldwell and winger Chris Burke are poised to come back in.

Blues, 14 unbeaten in all competitions, have dropped down to sixth in the Championship table amid a congested promotion race but now have two games in hand following back-to-back weekends without league action.

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