Benitez could start against Pompey

The Ecuador international impressed as a late substitute during the 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday. McLeish operated with a single striker for most of the game at Old Trafford and has to decide whether to revert to a 4-4-2 system against Paul Hart's side. McLeish will select from the same 18 players with midfielder Lee Bowyer still suspended after his sending-off at the tail end of last season. Birmingham (from): Hart, Carr, R Johnson, Queudrue, Vignal, Larsson, Carsley, Ferguson, Fahey, McFadden, Jerome, O'Connor, Benitez, O'Shea, Phillips, Parnaby, McSheffrey, Maik Taylor.