McFadden may be out for season

Birmingham City forward James McFadden could be out for the rest of the season after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in training.

The 27-year-old Scotland international will see a specialist on Monday before having surgery on the injury.

The club said in a statement last night: "Birmingham City can confirm that James McFadden sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage to his left knee in training.

"McFadden will see a specialist on Monday with a view to surgery and will be out of action for the foreseeable future."

McFadden has featured in all four of Birmingham City's Barclays Premier League games so far this season as well as Scotland's opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers earlier this month.

He was injured during training ahead of today's derby with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns in which he was due to start. Alex Hleb is McFadden's likely replacement for the game.

The former Motherwell and Everton striker's only goal of the campaign to date came in last month's Carling Cup victory over Rochdale.

Scotland manager Craig Levein, whose career was ended prematurely by a knee injury, expressed his sympathies for McFadden and backed the player to bounce back.

Levein said: "I know more than anyone how devastating a cruciate ligament injury can be. My sympathies go to James.

"Having said that, he's a strong character and I'm sure he will overcome it.

"I'm not even going to get into what this means for Scotland because at this stage the most important thing is that he recovers and gets his career back on track.

"On behalf of the squad, the backroom staff and I'm sure the Scotland supporters, I wish him a speedy recovery."