Stephen Clemence will not play again this season after suffering a torn hamstring.
Birmingham's survival bid has taken another hit with the confirmation on Friday that midfielder Stephen Clemence will miss the remainder of the season.
In a now all too familiar tale of woe for manager Steve Bruce, Clemence joins the list of the long-term absentees at St Andrews with a torn hamstring.
Clemence was forced off in the eighth minute of Blues' crucial win over Bolton on Tuesday and will play no further part in his side's attempts to avoid relegation.
"Clemence will not play again this season. He has torn his hamstring and you are looking at 28 days out of action with such an injury which basically takes you up to the end of the season," confirmed Bruce.
Bruce could be particularly short of options in central midfield, with Nicky Butt also limping out of the same game with a re-occurrence of a similar injury.
However, the manager, who is preparing his side to face Wigan on Saturday, believes Butt could be back sooner rather than later.
"The good thing is we are more hopeful about Nicky Butt. His hamstring injury is not as severe. You are normally out for 10-14 days with a small strain and he possibly could be available for the Villa game," added Bruce.
