Premier League preview: Birmingham City v Newcastle United

Birmingham City will look to move further away from the relegation zone when they tackle Newcastle United at St Andrew’s on Tuesday.

Alex McLeish’s men, in 14th place on the table on 30 points but only two behind Newcastle, have proved difficult to beat at home this season.

They have lost only twice on home turf but the seven draws have proved expensive and may ultimately be costly in their hopes of grabbing a place in Europe next season.

In comparison, Newcastle’s away form has also been patchy but they did start 2011 impressively with a 1-0 win at Wigan Athletic, Shola Ameobi scoring the winner.

Amoebi will miss Tuesday’s match with a fractured cheekbone and, with Andy Carroll’s departure to Liverpool still a sore point on Tyneside, the pressure is mounting on Alan Pardew to find a goalscorer.

Former Newcastle marksman Obafemi Martins has the chance to shine against his former club but the man Toon will have to watch closely is in-form striker Nikola Zigic.

The Serbian international has scored in each of his last three league games, including the winners against West Ham and Stoke.

Saturday’s victory over Stoke was particularly pleasing for City fans – it was the first time the club had achieved back-to-back league wins in 14 months.

With City’s squad having one eye on the Carling Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on February 27 – Martins is eligible – the competition for strikers is hotting up.

Cameron Jerome, Kevin Phillips and Matt Derbyshire are the others in the mix to partner Zigic.

Defender Scott Dann’s absence through injury is something Newcastle will look to capitalise on.

Dann tore his hamstring in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg at West Ham and surgery has ruled him out for the remainder of the season.