Birmingham City will be hoping to close the gap on the promotion chasing sides when they host Nottingham Forest this weekend. 

It's sure to be a fiercely contested game between two sides that will feel as though they have the quality to come out of the game with an all-important three points.

We look at how Birmingham could line up against the Reds here.

There isn't expected to be many changes to Monk's starting XI and in fact, you can expect to see only one change for their game this weekend.

Kristian Pederson was sent off in their draw with Swansea in midweek which means he is suspended for this one, so Maxime Colin could be shifted over to left-back this weekend.

It could see Wes Harding come back into the starting XI at right-back and he'll be hoping to stake a claim to Monk for a regular starting spot, having only made five league starts for the Blues this season.

Jacques Maghoma will be hoping to build on an impressive showing against the Swans, with the winger scoring and assisting for the Blues on the night.

Lucas Jutkiewicz is expected to partner Che Adams up front for Birmingham, which will be a relief to see for Blues supporters, with Adams being linked with a move away from the club throughout deadline day.

Sky Sports revealed that Birmingham had rejected a bid in the region of £12m, and Monk will be hoping that he can add to his already impressive goal tally as the season progresses.

It's sure to be a potentially tricky game for Monk's side this weekend, as Nottingham Forest will come into this one hoping to fire themselves into the play-offs with a win at St Andrew's.