Murphy's injury setback

Murphy, 25, has been out for seven months with a broken knee cap and doctors will see if the player needs another operation after he suffered a setback.

The left-back played his part in helping Blues win promotion to the Barclays Premier League before getting injured towards the end of last season.

Manager Alex McLeish will be hoping for a speedy return for the former Middlesbrough trainee he signed from Hibernian for £1.5m in January 2008.

playing again

McLeish said: "We are disappointed at the lack of progress by David. He was coming back - and looking good - but he has had another little setback.

"We are going to have to get him re-assessed for the lad's sake as well as anything else.