Team news: Cook suspended, Lerma fine

AFC Bournemouth lost for the first time in their league season away at Hillsborough on Tuesday night, with manager Jason Tindall talking through the availability in his squad in his Friday morning press conference at Vitality Stadium.

"We just have impact injuries that a couple of the guys picked up," he said on the absence of fresh injury concerns. "They were assessed yesterday and will be assessed again this morning.

"Hopefully there's nothing too serious to keep players out of tomorrow's game. After today we'll know a little bit more about them.

"Thankfully Jeff came through the game okay, he missed a little bit of time through a hamstring problem.

"You're always worried when players are returning from that kind of injury, but thankfully for us he came through with no problems."

Tindall knows that he will be without Steve Cook, the skipper picking up a one-match suspension in Tuesday's match against Sheffield Wednesday after receiving a red card.

Defensive loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers has yet to make his debut for the Cherries, but is ready to step in if chosen for the match at St. Andrew's.

"It's a shame that Steve Cook's going to be out," said the manager, assessing his backline options. "He's the leader of the team and he's performed well this season, so that will be a blow for us but we've got a good squad and good players to choose from.

"Cameron comes into that category where we're pleased with the work he's done so far and I feel he's ready if selected and called upon."

Saturday's opponents Birmingham currently sit in mid-table, four points behind the Cherries after an even number of wins and losses to begin the 2020/21 campaign.

Despite Aitor Karanka's side losing to Wycombe in midweek, Tindall is aware of the test the Blues will pose on their own patch.

He said: "Karanka's teams are always very hard to play against, he sets them up very well and it's going to be a tough game.

"We've come up against his sides a number of times and they've always been very tough games for us and I'm expecting no different tomorrow, Birmingham are a very good Championship side.

"They'll be looking to respond and bounce back from their disappointing result in midweek, just like we will be.

"Preparations have been good, we've had two decent days in terms of getting ourselves ready for the weekend.

"The games do come around quickly but it's something we're used to now. We had a good day's training yesterday, we'll have another good day today and we will be ready for tomorrow."