Recently by Andy Walker

To help get you in the mood for this Sunday's showdown at St Andrew's:

With Lee Carsley and Damien Johnson (team and club skipper for the 2008/09 campaign respectively) unlikely to play a great deal next season and Liam Ridgewell injured for the opening months, it leaves the question - who will captain Blues in the Premier League?

There are several candidates, should Carsley not be selected in the starting line-up.

Stephen Carr and Lee Bowyer are both vastly-experienced campaigners who should easily be able to step into the role.

Or will Alex McLeish hand the armband to new-boy Barry Ferguson? After all Big Eck knows the midfielder's leadership qualities having taken on the job for club and country.

An outside bet is young Scott Dann, who captained Coventry at the age of 21 and recently admitted to me during an interview that he'd love to be handed the armband at his new club.

Thoughts?