Cisse fighting to be fit for 'biggest match of the season'

Birmingham City's Senegalese midfielder Aliou Cisse believes Saturday's Premiership relegation six pointer with Bolton could decide whether they stay up or go straight back down again.

The 26-year-old is fighting against time to be fit for the match, after injuring a calf in the 1-1 draw with Blackburn 10 days ago, which were they to lose it would leave them just two points ahead of fourth from bottom Bolton, though they would have a game in hand.

However Cisse, who was an inspirational captain for Senegal as they went out in the last eight of the World Cup finals to Turkey on a golden goal, said that he was desperate to play as he considered it to be the key to their survival.

"It's our biggest game of the season so far, without question," he told the Birmingham Evening News.

"Forget the three homes games coming up against Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

"They might have more glamour attached to them but they don't concern me.

"What counts is getting those three or four wins we think we need to stay in this division and keeping the teams around us like Bolton at arm's length," added Cisse.

Should Cisse, who lost 11 members of his family in a ferry disaster last September off the coast of Senegal, fail to make it club manager Steve Bruce has several options to fill the vacancy alongside Robbie Savage.

While new loan signing Piotr Swierczeski would be eligible it is more likely that another recent arrival Stephen Clemence would start allowing the experienced Polish international to acclimatise further since his move from Marseille.

Birmingham's chances of staying up were helped immeasurably on Tuesday when both Bolton and third from bottom Sunderland lost at home to Everton and Southampton respectively.