Birmingham City have been handed a midfield blow after it was confirmed Lee Carsley faces around six weeks out with his ankle injury. The experienced star damaged his ankle ligaments in the first third round FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest and it's now been revealed he will be out for up to six weeks with the problem. Blues boss Alex McLeish does not expect to have the former Everton man available again until March although new signing Michel from Sporting Gijon should cover for the loss of Carsley as they look to continue their recent fine run in the Premier League. "Lee is probably looking at six weeks," said McLeish on the club's website. "He’s getting daily treatment. He's also wearing a special boot, but he's stabilised and that's going to help him more than an operation." Birmingham go to bottom-of-the table Portsmouth on Saturday following the midweek replay win over Forest that secured a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.