STEVE Cotterill is set to run a gauntlet of hate when Burnley visit his former club Stoke City today.

City have issued an appeal for calm ahead of the game, which sees Clarets boss Cotterill make a first return to the club he left 26 months ago after 13 games as manager to become assistant manager at Sunderland.

However, Cotterill is remaining fully focused on ensuring his side take to the field in the right frame of mind just two days after their New Year's Day game with Leicester City was abandoned after 19 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch.

The Clarets therefore head for the Potteries fresher than City, whose 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest the same day saw Clint Hill and Clive Clarke both sent off to become suspended for this afternoon's clash.

But Cotterill warned: "We might be fresh for Stoke, but it doesn't always work out better that way so we have to be right."

Gary Cahill could be available again after a bout of illness that ruled him out of the New Year's Day game.

However, Clarets captain Robbie Blake was today on the verge of joining Birmingham City after it was revealed both clubs have agreed a fee, believed to be around £1.5million.

Cotterill said: "The two chairmen have come to an agreement over Robbie, who is going down to Birmingham for talks on Tuesday.

"It looks as though he will be signing and has played his last game for us. I am very sad and disappointed to be losing such a good player, but you can't begrudge him that chance."

Meanwhile, Stoke chiefs have warned there could be serious repercussions for their club if any angry supporter confronts Cotterill today.

City fans remain bitter over the way Cotterill left the Britannia Stadium after five months in charge to become Howard Wilkinson's assistant at the Stadium of Light.

But Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes insisted: "We have taken appropriate steps to ensure that there is no issue with Steve being here.

"Obviously he generates strong feelings given the circumstances of his departure, but it would obviously be very bad for the club if supporters take things into their own hands and we would ask them to remember this."