Zola feeling the heat with the Blues

BIRMINGHAM’S under-fire manager Gianfranco Zola has a striker injury crisis on his hands for the vital relegation battle against fellow strugglers Burton at St Andrew’s.

Zola (above) and his players were booed following the 1-1 draw at already-relegated Rotherham on Good Friday where striker Lukas Jutkiewicz suffered a hamstring injury. Clayton Donaldson missed the Millers match with a knee injury suffered in training so Watford loanee Jerome Sinclair could start.

Burton will monitor the fitness of defender Kyle McFadzean (hamstring) ahead of the trip.

John Mousinho replaced him against Ipswich and is likely to continue should McFadzean miss out again. Lasse Vigen Christensen, Lucas Akins and Luke Varney all came on against Ipswich and are pushing to start.

Chris Martin will miss Fulham’s clash with Aston Villa after seeing red at Norwich.

The striker was sent off during the 3-1 win over his former club and, although Fulham plan to appeal against the dismissal, the visit of Villa will come too soon for Martin. Denis Odoi’s participation remains in doubt.

The Belgian defender sat out his fourth straight game due to insufficient fitness but former England midfielder Scott Parker is nearing a recovery from a back injury.

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is unlikely to have Neil Taylor available for the trip to Craven Cottage.

The left-back picked up a groin injury in training on Thursday and missed the 3-1 defeat against Reading on Saturday with Jordan Amavi taking his place. Goalkeeper Mark Bunn, who has been an understudy to Sam Johnstone for majority of the season, is also a doubt with a knee problem. Gabby Agbonlahor (hamstring) and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (ankle) are out.

Ipswich midfielder Cole Skuse should retain his place against promotion-chasing Newcastle after returning to the side following a spell out with concussion.

Danish defender Jonas Knudsen (shoulder) and centrehalf Steven Taylor (hamstring) remain out, along with Adam Webster and midfielder Luke Hyam, who are both recovering from ankle problems.

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez may decide to rotate his squad. Isaac Hayden started for the first time in three matches in Good Friday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds after recovering from an ankle injury and could retain his place. Jack Colback replaced Hayden following a two-game absence of his own due to a virus and will be pushing for a recall.