Kevin Phillips out of season opener

Birmingham striker Kevin Phillips was today ruled out for the start of the season with a torn thigh muscle.

The veteran was facing an anxious wait ahead of a scan today after limping off in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Mallorca at St Andrew's.

Phillips is definitely out of Saturday's Premier League opener at former club Sunderland and manager Alex McLeish expects the 37-year-old to be unavailable for some time.

He said: "Kevin told me it felt like a bullet in his leg, his thigh muscle exploded. So his early signs are not good, it looks as if he could be out for a while with that one.

"Hopefully the diagnosis over the next 24 hours proves different but he'll be getting scanned today.

"It doesn't look good for the wee man and more importantly for the club as a whole."

Phillips hobbled off in the last minute after replacing Cameron Jerome in the 73rd minute and his absence leaves Blues with just three fit strikers ahead of the Premier League curtain raiser.

McLeish has Nikola Zigic, Jerome and Garry O'Connor but has made no secret of his desire to bolster his frontline.

But the Blues boss has been chasing AZ Alkmaar striker Moussa Dembele and expects an answer from the hitman imminently.

He said: "I had good vibes from the agent when I met him. But I never like talking about potential signings until the deal is done.

"There are others interested."