Successful op for McFadden

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish is confident that James McFadden will be able to return to action in early April after the former Motherwell and Everton star underwent a successful knee operation.

The 24-year-old has had keyhole surgery to repair a meniscus tear in the joint and has not played since the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United earlier this month.

"The operation went very well and James feels fine," McLeish told City's official website.

"It's important that we got him sorted before the final games. Hopefully he'll be back in two or three weeks.

"We can ill-afford to lose players like James and Olivier Kapo from what's a small and inexperienced squad.

"These are major blows to any team, never mind Birmingham City, when we don't have the resources."

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