Nottingham Forest manager Alex McLeish returns to St Andrew's on Saturday for the first time since leaving Birmingham City to join arch-rivals Aston Villa.

The Scot took over from Sean O'Driscoll in December and is looking to continue the team's push for a spot in the playoffs.

Adlene Guedioura is still unavailable due to his commitments in the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria, but otherwise McLeish will have a full squad from which to choose.

A booking for either Billy Sharp or Andy Reid will see them incur an automatic one-game suspension.

Stephens Carr and Will Packwood are both long-term injury problems for the hosts, who are looking for back-to-back league wins.

Marlon King's last-minute strike saw the Blues defeat Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The immediate future of Jack Butland seems to lie with Stoke City, so Colin Doyle will no doubt deputise should he complete a move to the Britannia Stadium.

Recent form

Birmingham: WLLDDW

Forest: WDLWDL

Possible lineups

Birmingham: Doyle, Caddis, Davies, Caldwell, Robinson, Burke, Gomis, Reilly, Elliott, Hall, King

Forest: Darlow, Jara Reyes, Ward, Collins, Halford, Gillett, Cohen, Lansbury, Cox, Blackstock, Sharp

Sports Mole says: 1-1

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