McFadden hit by groin woe

Birmingham have been hit by the news that striker James McFadden will be missing for another fortnight due to a groin injury.

The Scotland international and former Everton man missed the weekend's 3-2 win against Watford at St Andrews and was hoping to try and get back fit for Tuesday's trip to face Plymouth at Home Park. However, Blues boss Alex McLeish has confirmed that McFadden will be out for two more weeks due to an abductor problem.

"He has a bit of a groin problem, an abductor problem," McLeish told the Birmingham Mail.

"We feel that if we force him through this very tough period, it could mean long-term difficulties.

"We got the scans back and he needs a couple of weeks rest. We've got to get him right because he has been in fantastic form.

"In fact, before the Wolves game he told me after the warm-up that his abductors were a little bit sore but he would get through it and the way he played that day, he defied belief.

"He's that type of guy, he just wants to play all the time.

"He will have a wee niggle but he will still want a five-a-side in training or something. He's still at an age where he doesn't really know his body.

"So it's a blow for us, because he was in fantastic form, but the rest is to ensure that we've got James McFadden for the rest of the season."