Birmingham boss Steve Cotterill faces selection dilemma

Posted Tuesday, January 30, 2018 by PA

Craig Gardner is expected to come back into Birmingham’s starting line-up against relegation rivals Sunderland as boss Steve Cotterill faces a selection poser.

He made seven changes for the FA Cup clash at Huddersfield on Saturday and Blues came away with a credible 1-1 draw.

Jason Lowe, Carl Jenkinson and Jota – making his first start since Boxing Day – all gave Cotterill food for thought.

Gardner came on for the last two minutes having overcome a groin problem and he should be fit enough to start, while Harlee Dean’s half-time substitution had been pre-planned by Cotterill.

New signing Kazenga LuaLua will be included in the Sunderland squad for the first time at St Andrew’s.

The 27-year-old is unlikely to start after completing his move from Brighton on a short-term contract last week following a loan spell at QPR, but could be used from the bench.

Defender Lamine Kone may also travel after playing an hour for the Under-23s last week following his recovery from a knee injury, but the game will come too soon for midfielder Jonny Williams as he steps up his recovery from shoulder surgery.

Didier Ndong serves the second game of his three-match ban after being sent of at Cardiff and Billy Jones will miss out through illness, while Darron Gibson (groin) and Duncan Watmore (knee) are still sidelined.