Hleb debut put on hold

New Blues loan signing to miss debut through injury

Last updated: 9th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hleb debut put on hold

Hleb: Out with leg injury

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Birmingham new-boy Alexander Hleb has been denied the chance of a home debut against Liverpool on Sunday after picking up a leg injury.

The midfielder, who is at St Andrew's from Barcelona on a season-long loan deal, sustained the knock while on international duty for Belarus in Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Romania.

The 29-year-old, who captains the national side, limped off midway through the second half of the Dinamo Stadion clash.

Belarus coach Bernd Strange has revealed the injury is not long-term, but will keep Hleb out of Premier League action this weekend.

"His injury isn't too serious, but Hleb told me he definitely would be unable to play on Sunday," Strange told the Express and Star.

"He should be able to return to action sometime next week.

"He just needs some rest and have some physio."

Signing

Meanwhile, Birmingham are understood to still be keen on signing young Crystal Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne.

The Blues are believed to be lining up another offer including instalments and a potential 'loan back' arrangement, which would see the 19-year-old right-back continue at Selhurst Park until the summer.

However, Steve Parish, one of Palace's co-owners and a member of the CPFC2010 consortium that saved the club, insists the teenage stopper would come at a substantial price.

Parish said: "We want to keep our young players together, so it would have to take something silly for us to change our minds."