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Kevin Phillips out of Albion game
Friday 17th September 2010, 1:02PM BST.
Kevin Phillips has been ruled out of an emotional return to Albion with Birmingham manager Alex McLeish refusing to risk the striker’s fitness.
The 37-year-old had hoped to return from a pre-season thigh injury by making the Blues squad for the opening West Midlands derby of the season at the Hawthorns tomorrow.
But McLeish is unwilling to rush the former Baggies goal hero back into action despite a return to full training this week.
He said: “Kevin Phillips is not quite ready. It would have been nice to take him along to the Hawthorns.
“He’s back in full training this week but he’s doing a wee bit extra with the sports fitness guy Nick Davis.”
New Blues signing Alexander Hleb is available to make his debut for the club tomorrow.
The midfielder signed a loan deal from Barcelona on the last day of the transfer window, but missed Blues’ match against Liverpool with an ankle injury picked up while playing for Belarus.
McLeish revealed he has not yet decided what kind of role Hleb will have tomorrow.
He said: “Alexander has been looking quite good. It was great to see him on the training field, he has undoubted quality.”
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Any chance he can be out when we play Blues as well please, blokes a bloomin nuisance!
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Couldn’t agree with billythefish more!! I idolised him during his stay at the hawthorns, and even use his name on a computer code log in to this day!!
But what I have to say is, kevin is a consummate finisher, and as we know, local derbies, playing against a former club, will inspire him to do some damage, and turn the tables on fans who he was a former favourite with. So yes, ‘super kev’, alternative pastime for you this saturday mate!
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He’ll only play two games this season :-)
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Shame “SUPER KEV” not playing, hope he is still at the game though so baggies fans can let him know how much he meant to us, would still have him back any day what a player for young strikers to learn from in a player coaching role.
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