Morrison hopes to see action against Gunners

BIRMINGHAM CITY’S record signing Clinton Morrison is confident he will be fit after his groin injury to play some part in Sunday’s Premiership opener with champions Arsenal at Highbury.

But the £4 million capture from Crystal Palace admits a chronic lack of match fitness means he may struggle to last the entire 90 minutes against the Gunners.

Morrison has barely 20 minutes of pre-season action under his belt after being excluded from Palace’s build-up before the deal went through and then only featuring briefly against Tranmere and Stoke for the Blues before being stretchered off at the Britannia Stadium.

The Republic of Ireland striker said: ‘‘I am not going to be match fit for Sunday but I am going to be physically fit. Fingers crossed that I can take some part in the game against Arsenal.

‘‘I’m available to start so it’s up to the manager now. I might not last the game but I’ll try my best.

‘‘Part of the problem is the lack of pre-season friendlies I’ve played. I only had 15 minutes on the pitch against Tranmere Rovers and then six minutes at Stoke City before getting injured and I had no games before the transfer for Palace.

‘‘It’s a big disappointment that I won’t be 100% for the start of the season but I am just happy to make the game.

‘‘I’ve had this groin problem for the past two weeks but it’s healing now. I did a bit of running today and I should train with the lads on Thursday.’’

Meanwhile, defender Darren Purse has signed a new three-year deal to finally settle his future at the club after a turbulent year which saw him stripped of the captaincy.

Purse, who lost the armband after refusing to discuss a new deal during last season, also has an option for a fourth year on the new contract which he signed today.

The 26-year-old defender had initially turned down a five-year deal back in February but has agreed to a new contract with the club following their promotion to the Premiership.