Lukas Jutkiewicz has been strapped up for Birmingham City's deciding Championship matches.
The veteran striker has been sidelined since the middle of March due to a knee injury and hasn't featured in any of Gary Rowett's six matches in charge. Rowett hoped Jutkiewicz would be able to return for the final two games and the 35-year-old is doing his utmost to boost Blues ahead of the trip to Huddersfield Town.
Blues travel to Huddersfield knowing a victory is needed. Both teams are currently inside the relegation zone and Huddersfield will be relegated if Blues emerge victorious.
Jutkiewicz - who spent time on loan at Huddersfield earlier in his career - has returned to training on the eve of the match at the John Smith's Stadium.
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“Jukey epitomises what you need at this stage of the season," said Rowett. "As he has done so many times, he just wants to get out there. He’s running around with more tape on him than I’ve ever seen in my life.
“He is going to do his best to be available. I think that’s really inspirational. That’s what you need to look at at this stage of the season, someone who has had to do it so many times but just cannot do it any other way than be incredibly professional.
“If he is available then at some point in the game he could be absolutely vital to change the game. We haven’t had the opportunity to do that at all really, so he could certainly give us a different outlet should we need it late on.”
Rowett confirmed Alex Pritchard has trained all week and will be available for selection. Oliver Burke, however, is out with a hamstring injury. Here is the latest Blues injury news...
Lukas Jutkiewicz
Injury: Knee
Jutkiewicz went down in a heap in the closing stages of Blues' defeat to Watford before the international break. The striker landed awkwardly after challenging for an aerial ball and had to be substituted. He has been travelling to games to support his teammates and is now back in training.
Oliver Burke
Injury: Hamstring
Rowett surprised everyone by handing Burke a start at Rotherham but it didn't go to plan. Burke was booed by Blues fans and substituted at half-time. Rowett says Burke felt his hamstring at the New York Stadium and won't be available at Huddersfield.
"Burkey hasn’t (trained)," said Rowett. "He felt his hamstring at the end of the game so he’s unavailable.”
Alfie Chang
Injury: Knee
Chang sustained a serious ACL injury during a training session in August and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. The 21-year-old, who has since signed a new three-year contract, has been working with Blues' physios in the gym and has started cycling to improve his fitness.
