Birmingham vs Bolton preview - Blues boosted by duo return

Birmingham boss Lee Clark has been boosted by the news that Lee Novak and Neal Eardley are both available to return from injury ahead of Saturday's Championship clash with Bolton.

Forward Novak has been out for six weeks and defender Eardley has been absent for a month, each as a result of knee problems.

However, both emerged unscathed from a midweek friendly against Notts County, with Novak scoring in a 2-1 victory.

Demarai Gray has recovered from the ankle knock which ruled him out of England Under-19s duty, but Mark Duffy has suffered a calf injury and will be sidelined for up to eight weeks.

Bolton will begin life under Neil Lennon at St Andrew's after the Northern Irishman was appointed to the manager's post last Sunday.

The ex-Celtic boss admitted earlier this week that he was unsure which players or even which formation he would deploy in the Midlands, but the likes of Matt Mills, Jermaine Beckford and 20-year-old striker Max Clayton have all caught the 43-year-old's eye already.

A number of Wanderers' internationals would not even meet Lennon until later this week which may harm their chances of featuring, with Tim Ream, Chris Herd, Medo Kamara and Lee Chung-yong all flying back after midweek friendlies on other continents.

Goalkeeper Adam Bogdan (finger) and defender Marc Tierney (broken foot) are still out for the Sky Bet Championship basement dwellers, but Liam Trotter (hamstring) and David Wheater (back) are both nearing their respective returns.