SAINTS welcome an old friend back to St Mary's this afternoon - but Jeff Kenna has warned that his Birmingham side will be no push-overs.

Kenna, who played 133 games for Saints after joining them as a trainee, is now club captain at Birmingham, but says he can't wait to return to the south coast.

"I haven't been back to Southampton for a while and it will be the first time I've played at St Mary's, but I'm really looking forward to coming back," said Kenna, pictured below celebrating with Blues boss Steve Bruce.

"It would be nice to get a good reception as they were all lovely people at Southampton.

"I enjoyed my time there, it was a fantastic experience and I have very fond memories. I still keep in touch with people like Jason Dodd and Frannie Benali."

Birmingham are also enjoying a good start to the season and lie just one place behind Saints in the Premier League table.

Kenna, 32, is currently on fine individual form, scoring only the eighth goal of his career last week in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

It was a fine individual effort and he later revealed that it was his first for seven years!

"We are going great guns at the moment and I'm really enjoying it, especially the goal," said Kenna.

"It will be a very difficult game - Saints are unbeaten at home this season, so we know how good they are, but I don't think that we will be any push-over."

Kenna eventually left Saints for Blackburn in £1.5m transfer and was part of the 1995 championship winning team.

He eventually joined Birmingham in February this year after falling out of the Rovers first team.

He immediately helped Steve Bruce's men to promotion and has been one of the most consistent defenders in the Premiership so far this season.

"Twelve months ago I was sat on my backside doing nothing and now everything is going brilliant," he said.

"I am really enjoying my football now, there is a definite feeling at Birmingham that we are on the up and fast improving.

"It is not just on the pitch that things are going well either, but everything about the club. The academy is doing well and we have a new training pitch."

Kenna retains strong connections with the city and has three well-known brothers in local sporting circles.

Warren and Stuart both play for Jewson Wessex League side Eastleigh, while Colin is currently making his way up the British heavyweight boxing rankings.