Newly-promoted Blues have been given a baptism of fire on their return to the Barclays Premier League with a danting trip to Old Trafford for their first fixture.

But Tottenham Hotspur manager Redknapp reckons that is an ideal time to play the champions who are likely to be without Real Madrid-bound Ronaldo.

And Redknapp says Birmingham manager Alex McLeish will have an extra incentive to get one over Sir Alex Fergsuon who was his manager at Aberdeen in the 1980s.

bit wobbly

"Old Trafford is suddenly looking a bit wobbly," said Redknapp. "So if I was the manager of Birmingham City this morning, I would be thinking: Result!

"If anyone is capable of delivering a shock on the first day of next season, I believe it is Alex McLeish and Birmingham City.

"A lot of history exists between McLeish and Alex Ferguson. McLeish was one of Fergie's centre-halves during his time as Aberdeen boss in the 1980s, when he temporarily broke up the Scottish axis of Celtic and Rangers.

"But who would not want to get one over on their old boss? Who would not want to show that he is now an established manager on equal terms with his former guv'nor?

"Who would not be that extra little bit revved up to try and wrestle something out of that match?

"And this is United without Ronaldo, the one player who has consistently scored so many crucial goals for them. I have said before that I do not believe there is one single player in the world capable of filling the gap left by Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid."