McINNES TO GIVE CHANCE TO FRINGE MEN

New Bristol City manager Derek McInnes could welcome some of the squad’s fringe players into his starting line-up when they host Birmingham for his first game in charge.
McInnes has assured the players who were frozen out by former boss Keith Millen that they will be given opportunities to impress him.
“My job is to get the right team on the pitch and I will value everyone equally. Everyone will get the same chance to impress and show me they should be in the team,” McInnes told the Bristol Evening Post.
Liam Fontaine (ankle) featured for the reserves in midweek but this game may come too early for the defender.
Long-serving centre-back Louis Carey (knee) is a major doubt and fellow defender James McAllister (ankle) is sidelined.
Pablo Ibanez is out for Birmingham, but fellow defenders Stephen Carr and Curtis Davies are back in contention.
Centre-back Ibanez was carried off on a spinal board during the 2-1 win over Club Brugge after being knocked unconscious in the 83rd minute.
Former Aston Villa defender Davies travelled to Belgium and trained with the squad but was ruled out with a knee problem while Carr remained in England due to a similar injury.
But the pair have recovered and Davies is ready to come in for Ibanez as a like-for-like switch while club captain Carr should slot in at right back.
Midfielder Wade Elliott and full-back David Murphy, who scored the Blues’ first goal on Thursday, both have knocks and will be assessed before the game.
Jordan Mutch (ankle) and Enric Valles (foot) are long-term absentees.