Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish may be without his star striker James McFadden for Sunday’s lunchtime trip to Bolton Wanderers.

The Scottish striker has been in good form for Birmingham and scored a penalty in the club’s 3-2 Carling Cup win over Rochdale on Thursday night. In that game though McFadden had to be replaced at half time as a precaution.

Full Time Result betting has home side Bolton at 2.10, the draw at 3.30 and it is 3.60 for Birmingham to get the three points.

Manager Alex McLeish said: “Faddy has a tight groin but knowing him he will be ready for Sunday.

“He said he would be okay but it is one we will have to assess.”

McLeish knows that beating Bolton will be difficult and even more so if he does not have McFadden for the game, but if Birmingham want to improve on last season it is games like that they will have to win.

This season began with another creditable result away from St Andrew`s – a 2-2 draw on the road at Sunderland – and McLeish expects another thorough examination of that form when his side travel to the Reebok to play Bolton.

He said: “Bolton have a record to preserve but so do we as we are both unbeaten so far this season.

“We had a good record away from home last season and we would like to try and do as well as we did last season on that front.

“But that will be a big task.

“We took teams by surprise last year but we are not a surprise package anymore.

“There is a little bit more pressure on us but I believe the players have the mentality and the toughness to stand up to everything.”

Birmingham can be backed at 41.00 to surprise the rest of the Premier League and finish in the top 4 this season.

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Chelsea’s chief executive Ron Gourlay is adamant star striker Didier Drogba is not for sale and has also pledged more transfer funds to boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Both bits of news will come as a welcome relief to the Stamford Bridge faithful with only Yossi Benayoun added to the squad so far and Drogba’s agent sparking rumours of a move to Manchester City.

But Gourlay has made it clear that Drogba, back at the club’s training ground today after groin surgery, is not for sale.

He said “Didier will be a Chelsea player next year. Didier is under contract.

“The thing about this time of year is we always get (this). For our players to be in the news – it’s normal.

“But Didier Drogba will be a Chelsea player next year.”

The Ivory Coast striker, who was the Premier League’s leading goalscorer last season, can be backed at 6.50 to recapture his title.

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Gourlay also said that funds would be made available if Ancelotti wanted to strengthen his title-winning squad, following the acquisition of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool for £5million.

The Israel captain’s pre-season progress has been hampered by a slight groin problem but he is expected to be included on the club’s forthcoming tour of Germany.

The club have also lost defender Alex and goalkeeper Petr Cech through injury and chief executive, Ron Gourlay, has confirmed that funds will be made available to Ancelotti should the Chelsea boss require them.

“If Carlo wants to bring a player or two into the squad then we will look at that,” Gourlay told Sky Sports News.

“It has to be the right player to fit into the squad and obviously at the right price.

“If these things all come together then fine, we’ll strengthen the squad. But only if Carlo feels it’s necessary.”

Meanwhile, Deco’s future also continues to be the subject of continued speculation with Fluminese rumoured to be ready to land the Portugal midfielder.

But the player was today undergoing double training sessions at Cobham. It is understood he wants to return to his native Brazil to be with his ill son.

Reigning champions Chelsea, 2.50 to regain their title, kick-start the season at home to newly promoted West Brom. The Blues can be backed at 1.14 to get the perfect start, with West Brom 15.00 to cause an upset and the draw 6.50.

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