Hughton hunting for Irish talent

NEW Birmingham City boss Chris Hughton has admitted the Airtricity League is on his radar in terms of identifying new recruits.

Hughton, who takes charge of his first game tomorrow evening as Birmingham play Cork City in a friendly at Turner’s Cross, has lost Roger Johnson, Sebastian Larsson, Craig Gardner, Lee Bowyer, Kevin Phillips and Stuart Parnaby since the end of last season. The former Newcastle boss is therefore on the lookout for new additions and intends to look close to home.

“I think you have to, when you look at the players that have come from the league,” he said.