The Blues will again be without midfielder Jimmy Bullard when they face Birmingham at St Andrew’s on Wednesday with the 33-year-old still not entirely over his virus. Central defender Damien Delaney and midfielder Lee Bowyer are also set to miss out, while new loan keeper Alex McCarthy will start.
Manager Paul Jewell said: "Jimmy’s not very good, shame on some people who were sniggering that he had a ‘New Year’s illness’. He’s been very ill Jimmy, very ill.
"He came in on Sunday and was sent straight home. He tried to try and do some running but it was no good. He’s been very ill, it’s wiped him out completely and he’s been worried. He won’t be considered for Wednesday. It’s a nasty virus.”
Bowyer seems likely to miss the next two or three games: "Lee’s torn his abductor, he can’t do anything at the minute, so I think he’ll be at least a couple of weeks.”
Delaney hobbled off in the first half at Hull on Saturday and Jewell doesn’t expect the Irishman to be involved tomorrow: "He’s a major doubt. He’s hurt the foot he had the operation on and I wouldn’t have thought he’d be available on Wednesday.”
The Town manager says that the formalities have been tied up regarding new loan keeper Alex McCarthy and he will start at St Andrew’s: "That’s all been resolved and he’ll be in the team at Birmingham.”
Meanwhile, Jewell dismissed claims of interest in Leeds defender Andy O'Brien and Norwich's Aaron Wilbraham but says he has spoken to Derby midfielder Paul Green’s representative: "Greeny’s agent rang me when I was on the way to Hull, trying to tell me what type of player he is, so I let him go on for 10 minutes before telling him I signed him at Derby — ‘Oh, did you?’.
"I know all about Paul Green,” he added. "He’s a good footballer but he’s not one that we’ve enquired about.”
The Blues boss was at the Arsenal-Leeds FA Cup tie last night with Whites’ striker Ross McCormack, a 74th minute sub at the Emirates, previously rumoured to be a possible Blues target.
Asked about links with McCormack, Jewell said: "There’s been mentions of lots of people. Ross McCormack scored against us this year, scored a few goals for Cardiff. But we’ve got a few players on the radar who haven’t been mentioned.”
Jewell says that he's yet to receive any offers for current members of his squad.