City Set The Season Rolling Against Barnet

Birmingham go into the first game of the new season with a few problems for manager Lee Clark who takes charge of the side for the first time in a competitive game.

Clark hopes that he will be able to rely on the services of captain Stephen Carr, he was forced off the field during the friendly game against Royal Antwerp, but at this stage it is not thought to be too serious.

Clark has said that he will be putting a strong line up out to face Barnet as this match can be used a lot like a friendly game ahead of the big kick-off.

There will be no Jack Butland as he is in the England squad for the friendly with Italy.

There is a good chance that there will be a number of players making their debut for the club, Hayden Mullins, Darren Ambrose, Peter Lovenkrands, Ravel Morrison and Ben Gordon could be in line for a first appearance.

On the other side of the fence, Barnet too will have new faces in their side after manager Mark Robson signed up Barry Fuller and Curtis Weston in time to be able to make an appearance and Robson will have both in the squad.

And speculation has it that Robson may well give debuts to seven further signings.

Defenders Jonathan Fortune and Jordan Brown, midfielders Olly Lee, Ahmed Abdulla and Anthony Edgar, while up front, Jon Nurse and Jake Hyde may lead the attack for the first time.

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