Stan's Back!

Last updated : 05 March 2005 By Brian Cartlidge

Lazaridis has not played since sustaining a thigh injury in the FA Cup 3rd Round tie against Leeds Utd back on 8th January but Blues boss Steve Bruce has confirmed that the Australian international will be in the squad for the high-noon clash at the Hawthorns.

Whether or not Stan goes straight into the starting XI against the Baggies remains to be seen. I suspect he'll start on the bench.

Striker Emile Heskey will also return to lead the Blues attack having now served his one game suspension for picking up five bookings this season.

However, it appears that Mario Melchiot will be forced to sit out his second consecutive game having not fully recovered from the ankle injury he sustained 18 minutes into the 2-0 home win against Liverpool on February 12th. The Dutch international right-back was rated as 'extremely doubtful' by Bruce on Friday.