Troy Deeney previews his Birmingham City debut and what he’s expecting from Derby County

Birmingham City are back in Championship action on Friday evening with Wayne Rooney’s Derby County the visitors to St Andrew’s.

And although the Rams have started relatively well under testing circumstances in Derbyshire, Deeney is relishing the opportunity to make his Blues debut against a centre-back pairing with the combined age of 75 in Curtis Davies and Phil Jagielka.

“They are experienced. I’ve learned to say that myself instead of saying old,” he joked.

“They are experienced but if I can’t run past them then I need to call it a day anyway.

“We’ve got to make it difficult, we’ve got to make it uncomfortable for them and make it a high-tempo game.

“I know both of them so they know I’m joking by the way.”

Deeney was also quick to acknowledge the positive job that Rooney is doing at Pride Park and praised the former England striker for giving Ravel Morrison another chance in football.

“Wayne - his off field stuff is his off field stuff but on the pitch he’s doing a good job under really testing circumstances.

“I think he had a ropey time at the back end of last year, they lost 12 or 12 games so he’s obviously pulling it together now with very limited strings.

“A friend of mine, Ravel Morrison is there so I’m happy to see him there and Wayne giving him a chance.”

On the match itself, the new Blues striker is under no illusions how tough he expects the visitors to make it but believes his side go into it strong favourites.

“I think it will be a tough game. It’s cliche but there are now easy games in the Championship.

“It’s a Friday night and expectation and pressure is on myself and the club to deliver.

“If Blues go up against a Manchester United, it’s already like ‘you’ve lost this game’ and then we turn up and have a real good game.

“Like this, we’ve got to expect Derby to put it on us.”