Birmingham City have asked Hayden Mullins to solve a defensive headache – and complete a personal hat-trick at The Amex.

Mullins and Paul Robinson slot in at central defence for Blues, who have lost Dan Burn and Kyle Bartley, against Albion today.

The 6ft 6in Burn has returned to parent club Fulham after an impressive loan stint, although he is likely to return to Blues later this month, and Bartley has a hamstring injury.

Vastly experienced Robinson made his debut for the club at full-back when Blues won 1-0 here last season.

Mullins came on as a late sub at the back in that one – and also helped Reading win 1-0 here two seasons ago.

Tom Adeyemi is ruled out so Callum Reilly takes one of the holding midfield roles in a 4-2-3-1 set-up.

Jesse Lingard, who has operated in the attacking line of three, has gone back to parent club Manchester United and Aaron Mclean is back with Hull.

So Wade Elliott is set to start today just behind target man Nikola Zigic.

Blues are looking to extend an unbeaten run of ten games , six of them away from St Andrew’s. They bounced back from a 4-0 defeat at Leeds to score a creitable 1-1m dra wt Derby.

Wins at Bournemouth, Barnsley, Huddersfield, Blackburn, plus a goalless draw at Wigan, have followed.

Birmingham: Randolph; Caddis, Mullins, Robinson, Hancox; Lee, Reilly; Burke, Elliott, Novak. Zigic.

Subs: Doyle, Packwood, Bell, Gray, Brown, Shinnie, Ferguson.