Pennant supports Sol

Birmingham midfielder Jermaine Pennant is backing former team-mate Sol Campbell.

Concerns are growing with regards Campbell's welfare after the England defender was substituted in Wednesday's defeat to West Ham after a disastrous first half display.

Campbell left Highbury immediately, with Wenger having now confirmed that the player will take no part at the weekend and that he is unsure of his current whereabouts.

A former team-mate, Pennant has now leapt to the defence of Campbell - who he believes will bounce back from his latest problem.

''He's a great player, a very nice man as well as being very down to earth,'' Pennant told Sky Sports News.

''He was very frustrated obviously with being subbed at half-time. He probably feels a bit downgraded. I'm sure he'll bounce back from that.

''When I was at Arsenal he was very bubbly, up for it and loved the game.

''He's a strong person and he'll bounce back from this.

''It might be a bit of bad form, maybe the team not doing well means the pressure is pointed at him as the main central defender, it could maybe be a lot of things.

''I don't really know, I'm not there so only Arsenal and Sol really know about that.''

Meanwhile, Damien Johnson's appeal against the red card he picked up against Liverpool in midweek has been rejected.