Birmingham City Football Club News

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1875
• Manager:Chris Hughton

• Ground:St Andrew's
• Capacity:30,016

New setback for Johnson

22 Jul 2008 - 14:51:02

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Birmingham City captain Damien Johnson will miss the start of the new season after suffering a recurrence of a long-standing back injury.

The 29-year-old Northern Ireland suffered fresh problems on the club's pre-season tour of Austria and will now be sidelined for at least two months.

He told the club's official website: "Damien will have to have surgery on his back.

"He has resisted it over the last couple of years, but now it is felt that an operation is best.

"He will be out of action for no less than two months and we will support him 100 per cent with the operation and his rehab."

Johnson has been with the Blues since March 2002, having started his career with Blackburn Rovers and has scored four goals in 204 outings for City to date.