KEVIN PHILLIPS has been ruled out of tomorrow's crucial Premiership clash with Birmingham.

The striker had hoped to return from his ankle ligament injury, but will now be targeting Sunday's clash with Everton at St Mary's.

Nigel Quashie, though, is still hoping to make his Saints debut following a knee injury, while Jamie Redknapp is also likely to return to the midfield.

Redknapp was rested from Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup win over Portsmouth in preparation for the trip to St Andrews.

Saints boss Harry Redknapp explained: "The league is the important thing, that's our priority. We have got to stay in the Premier League - having a Cup run is great, but I'd have took three points at Birmingham rather than a win Saturday.

"We need league points, we've got to try and stay up, that's the key for us."

Redknapp Snr expects the FA Cup victory over Pompey to further lift confidence following the excellent win over Liverpool.

"We got a great win against Liverpool and that gave us all a lift," he said. "It was a better week around the place and the Cup has given us another lift.

"Getting a win starts to breed a bit of confidence, but we have still got an awful long way to go. There's a good feeling in the dressing-room which is important, we all needed that.

"I'd be a liar if I said it is not going to be tough. We've got 14 games left and we have got Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Everton at home.

"But at least we are starting to win some games. The players get on okay with me and they are enjoying the atmosphere I've tried to create with them, and that's important."

Birmingham have signed Uruguay striker Walter Pandiani on loan from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna until the end of the season.

Pandiani, who scored 50 goals in 128 Spanish league appearances, was signed late on last night.

Blues were today awaiting international clearance for the player in time for him to be available to face Saints.

Birmingham have also bolstered their ranks with the signing of Tunisian international Mehdi Nafti on loan from Spanish side Racing Santander.

The 26-year-old was linked with Saints last week and could feature tomorrow as City are short of bodies in midfield following Robbie Savage's departure and the injury to his replacement Salif Diao.

Nafti's signing was possible because the maximum two-loan rule only applies to deals between British clubs.

Blues also have Jermaine Pennant, who could also make his City debut tomorrow against the club he scored a hat-trick against for Arsenal in May 2003, and Diao on loan.