Midfielder Dietmar Hamann returns from suspension for Manchester City’s Barclays Premier League trip to Birmingham tomorrow.
Of City’s midfielders, only Martin Petrov has made more league starts than German Hamann this season.
Midfielder Michael Johnson, 20, should be fit despite struggling this week with a chest infection but England defenders Michael Ball and Micah Richards (both knee) remain on the sidelines.
Team (from): Hart, Corluka, Onuoha, Dunne, Garrido, Jihai, Ireland, Fernandes, Hamann, Petrov, Johnson, Castillo, Elano, Benjani, Vassell, Caicedo, Geovanni, Sturridge, Isaksson.