Benitez Misses West Ham Match

The Ecuadorian international striker sustained an ankle injury and was stretchered off the pitch 63 minutes into Sunday's loacal deby win against Wolves at St Andrews and although the injury is not too serious manager Alex McLeish has confirmed that he will not have recovered in time for the match at Upton Park on Wednesday night.

"He's limping a wee bit," the Blues boss told the Birmingham Mail.

"The doctor thinks that, with a push, he could have been knocking on the door. But he's not going to make it.

"It's not serious. Sometimes these things can improve pretty quickly then you hit a hiatus with it and it tends to drag on for a couple of weeks.

"Let's hope that the doc's diagnosis is right."

Benitez's injury will force McLeish into naming a different side to that which has started the last 12 League matches.

Kevin Phillips, who scored both goals in Blues' 2-1 win against Wolves, is the most likely candidate to replace Benitez although McLeish could opt to play James McFadden in a strikers role.