Roberts and Maghoma back for Birmingham

Birmingham welcome Marc Roberts and Jacques Maghoma back into their squad for the home clash with Middlesbrough on Friday night.

Defender Roberts missed the midweek defeat at Wigan with a tight hamstring, while winger Maghoma was rested as he struggles with a niggling calf problem.

Boss Pep Clotet has confirmed the duo are in contention, saying: “Marc and Jacques are good, no problem.”

Recent signing Josh McEachran is also “getting closer” to being involved, with another Under-23 run-out pencilled in for Friday.

Middlesbrough will assess the fitness of returning midfielder Jonny Howson ahead of the trip.

Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at home to Preston was Howson’s first game in three weeks following hernia surgery and boss Jonathan Woodgate will be keen to ease him back gently.

Howson was one of four changes to Boro’s starting line-up in midweek, with Marcus Tavernier, Marcus Browne and Daniel Ayala also coming in.

They impressed and will hope to keep their starting spots, although Woodgate has indicated a change in approach. “You can’t always be nice and pretty,” he said. “Sometimes you have to grind it out, graft and do the nasty things of the game and we’ll be doing that on Friday.”