Blue Rooney on secret mission

THE Chris Hughton era at Birmingham City begins in earnest at Turner’s Cross tonight (kick-off 7pm) as the Championship side take on Cork City in a pre-season friendly.

The Blues were dramatically relegated from the Premier League on the final day of last season and a traumatic summer got even worse when Alex McLeish quit the club to join bitter rivals Aston Villa.

Inevitably, Birmingham lost key players over the summer but new boss Hughton has brought in some shrewd replacements.