Boss defends under-fire striker (From The Bolton News)

Boss defends under-fire striker

BIRMINGHAM manager Steve Bruce has leapt to the defence of striker Christophe Dugarry and insisted the Frenchman will regain the heights of last season.

Dugarry came in for criticism from Blues supporters during a radio phone-in after the goalless draw with Aston Villa at St Andrews on Sunday.

Question marks were raised over whether he still had the commitment to the club, a stark contrast to the hero status he acquired when helping Birmingham to stay in the top flight.

But on the eve of tomorrow's Reebok clash with Wanderers, Bruce rubbished such claims and believes the former World Cup winner, who underwent a cartilage operation in August, will soon be back to his best.

Bruce said: "We know he has not hit the heights of last season, when he did more than anybody else to keep Birmingham City in this division.

"He was awesome and I said then he was the best player that this club had ever seen. For people to now say that he doesn't care is a load of nonsense. I have no doubt that he will put these people to right.

"For goodness sake, it is so early in the season and he's been out with a cartilage operation.

"He probably came back earlier than we expected from that and it takes anyone time to get over that kind of surgery.

"I've got no doubts about him getting back last season's form."

Midfielder Robbie Savage is expected to miss the game with the Achilles problem which flared up again in the derby and Damien Johnson is also struggling with a hamstring problem. Aliou Cisse is likely to replace Savage.

, while Olivier Tebily is likely to slot in at right-back.