Mackail-Smith injury rocks Seagulls Leaders Brighton will be without top scorer Craig Mackail-Smith when they host Birmingham. Mackail-Smith had scored six goals in his previous four games but limped off in the early stages of last weekend's win at Millwall with a hamstring injury. His absence could see Stephen Dobbie, the summer signing from Swansea, handed a full debut in attack. Right-back Bruno Saltor is a doubt after a groin injury forced him off at Millwall with fellow Spaniard Inigo Calderon on stand-by. Midfielder Andrew Crofts will have a check on his hamstring problem while forward Will Hoskins is still recovering from a broken foot. The Seagulls have won their last five matches and are two points clear of Huddersfield in second. Lee Clark has a host of selection decisions to make as his Birmingham side look to bounce back from last weekend's drubbing against Barnsley. Clark would naturally be considering changes after the abject 5-0 home reverse to the Tykes, but the Blues boss has plenty more to think about due to injury and illness among his squad. Marlon King has sat out of training for the majority of this week due to a virus and will be assessed, while Hayden Mullins was also struck down on Wednesday night, making him more of a doubt for the 5:30pm kick-off. Clark's main concerns come in defence, though, with Stephen Carr (knee) and Paul Caddis (shoulder) ruled out for the long-term while David Murphy (hamstring) and Pablo Ibanez (broken toe) are facing around a month on the sidelines. Left-back Paul Robinson is expected to make his debut having arrived on a short-term deal while Curtis Davies will return to partner Steven Caldwell at the heart of defence, with Will Packwood or Jonathan Spector at right-back.
Source: PA
