McFadden faces long lay-off after training-ground ligament injury

The Birmingham City forward James McFadden will be out of action "for the foreseeable future" after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in training yesterday.

The 27-year-old Scotland international will see a specialist on Monday with a view to undergoing surgery on the injury.

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

It is a blow to Birmingham who travel to West Bromwich Albion today for their Midlands derby. But the club have been buoyed by the prospect of new signing Alexander Hleb making his debut.

The midfielder signed a loan deal from Barcelona on the last day of the transfer window, but missed the Blues' match against Liverpool with an ankle injury picked up while playing for Belarus.

Albion will again be able to call on the services of playmaker Graham Dorrans after the midfielder missed last weekend's draw with Tottenham and a week's training following a family bereavement.

James Morrison serves the second of a three-game suspension following his sending-off at Liverpool while Joe Mattock (foot), Ishmael Miller (thigh) and Marek Cech (foot) also miss out.