Source: Daily_Mail
Alex Hleb in race to be fit for Carling Cup final against former club Arsenal
Alex McLeish is willing to wait until the last minute before deciding whether Alexander Hleb is fit to face former club Arsenal in the Carling Cup final on Sunday.[LNB]Birmingham City's boss is awaiting the results of a scan after sending the playmaker to London to see a specialist yesterday.[LNB]Unless there is the possibility of lasting damage, it seems that every effort will be made to accommodate Hleb in his squad.[LNB] Stricken: Hleb is stretchered off against Sheffield Wednesday[LNB]The Belarus international was injured following a heavy tackle byJames O'Connor during the defeat of Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday.[LNB]He hobbled away from St Andrew's with a crutch under each arm.However, he was walking around the training ground unaided on Mondayalthough if there is damage the player, on loan from Barcelona, isunlikely to be risked.[LNB]However, McLeish is giving Hleb every opportunity to prove hisfitness and said: 'We have not ruled him out at this moment, we aregetting some more specialist opinion. He took a fair rap on the insideof his knee. We feared it was ligament damage but we will have a betteridea in the morning.[LNB]'The Wednesday player apologised after the game and it would bedisappointing if Alexander was to miss out. It was bruising with somefluid.[LNB]'He is a fantastic player with huge experience and that would be important in a game of this magnitude.'[LNB] Van Persie and Koscielny ruled out of Arsenal's crunch clash with StokeMcLeish rescues hot-head Johnson ahead of Arsenal Carling Cup finalCup success could cost us our league place, laments Birmingham boss McLeishAll the latest Birmingham news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Hleb, Alex McLeish Places: London, Barcelona
