Zola could rest key man

The former Middlesbrough striker cancelled out Daryl Murphy's opener at St. Andrew's earlier this month and ensured that the two sides would meet again at St. James' Park to decide who will reach the fourth round.

But Blues boss Gianfranco Zola is unlikely to risk the frontman this time around, and could also rest some of his other senior men.

However, he has vowed to field a "strong team", with a tie away to Oxford United awaiting Wednesday's winners.

Zola wasn't in charge when Birmingham lost 4-0 on Tyneside in the league last month but, speaking to his club's official website, said: “It’s a tough place to go but I will make some changes because we also have a very important game on Saturday.

“I have to try to change some players, especially because we have one or two that have little issues physically and I want to preserve them.

“Michael Morrison has a groin problem which he has had for a month, so if we have an opportunity to give him a rest we will do that. The other one is Lukas Jutkiewicz, who has been playing a lot. And because there is a big game coming up and we don’t have much (attacking) cover at the moment, I’m considering giving him a rest as well. 

“But still, as we did in the first game, we are going to put a strong team out on the pitch.” 

Recent signing Craig Gardner, the ex-Sunderland midfielder, is ineligible because he was not signed until after the original cup meeting with Newcastle at St. Andrew’s.