TEAM NEWS FOR TONIGHT

Birmingham 11/2
Draw 11/4
Man Utd 4/9

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he is in the dark over Birmingham's likely line-up for the Premiership encounter at St Andrews.Old Trafford old-boy Steve Bruce has made six new signings during the transfer window as he attempts to stave off a quick return to the Nationwide League.

"With so many new players, we will have to play a bit of a guessing game about what team he will pick," said the United boss. "But by bringing in so many new faces, Steve now knows he has a squad which can cope with any injuries he might get in the last few weeks.It is bound to help him and I think they will just about manage to survive."

Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has been ruled out of the encounter after suffering hip and thigh muscle injuries on Saturday.

Ferguson added:

"Steve Bruce has the enthusiasm as a manager that he had as a player and you can see that in his team. They all seem to be very committed and Brucie will have them all revved up for the battles ahead because I know how much he wants to survive in the Premiership and keep Birmingham up."

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce has received a boost with the news that Christophe Dugarry has been declared fit.Aliou Cisse is still sidelined with a calf problem and Bruce has to decide whether to keep faith with goalkeeper Ian Bennett or recall Nico Vaesen