Source: Team_Talk
Johnson could be risked against Bees
Alex McLeish may gamble on playing Roger Johnson in Birmingham's Carling Cup clash with Brentford even though he is nursing a calf problem.[LNB] Johnson has been dogged by the injury for several weeks and McLeish wanted to rest the former Cardiff player ahead of Sunday's derby with Aston Villa.[LNB]But thigh and hamstring injuries to back-up defenders Martin Jiranek and David Murphy mean Johnson is likely to play as City look to book their quarter-final spot.[LNB]City manager McLeish admitted: "We've got one or two knocks and one or two players running on empty and we have to be careful we don't burn them out.[LNB]"For instance, Roger Johnson has been playing with a calf problem for a while and, normally with calf injuries, you would be ruled out.[LNB]"Johnson is a different type of animal. He will play through things. You get characters like that, some guys have got higher pain thresholds than others.[LNB]"If we keep putting Johnson through the mill than we could lose him for longer[LNB]"But a couple of the players who would have come in have taken knocks in Murphy and Jiranek. I wanted to rest Johnson. Whether I can do that now is debatable."[LNB]McLeish knows City have a golden opportunity to reach the last eight of the competition but insists Brentford will be no pushovers after their shock win against Everton.[LNB]He said: "Why not think of reaching Wembley? We've got to think that way but we do realise there are some incredible competitors out there.[LNB]"But first and foremost, let's get through this one because if we don't there is no point even chatting about that.[LNB]"We have to give Brentford every respect and not approach the game in a complacent manner and the gauntlet is down for the players who come into the side.[LNB]"For Birmingham to win a trophy would be a dream come true. We are not a fashionable club in terms of being trophy winners[LNB]"We are a good old traditional English club in the true sense of the word and it would be nice for Birmingham to have a bit of history but we are a long way from that.[LNB]"It is nice to talk about it but talk is cheap. You've actually got to go and do it on the pitch."[LNB]McLeish added: "Brentford have got nothing to lose. They are coming to a Premier League team. They can come relaxed knowing if they lose, it is expected, but if they win, then it is utopia for them.[LNB]"We know that has been the approach of the teams we have already knocked out of the cup with Rochdale and MK Dons putting in excellent performances.[LNB]"They raised their games and Brentford will do the same."[LNB]Former Sporting Gijon play-maker, Michel, will be given a rare start by McLeish after the form of Barry Ferguson has kept him out of the starting line-up.[LNB]McLeish said: "It is a bit of a thankless task for Michel because he was the captain of Sporting Gijon and we saw him play really well against the Real Madrids and Barcelonas of this world.[LNB]"But Ferguson's form has been exceptional and I've not devised a system where I can get the two of them into the same team.[LNB]"I know there are ways of doing that but I don't think it suited the rest of our players.[LNB]"Michel has been extremely unlucky. He wouldn't have envisaged being understudy to Barry. He may have thought he could have played in the team with Barry.[LNB]"It has been tough for him but at the end of the day we need a squad and I need cover for Ferguson and other players."
