Blues snap up Irish duo Folan and Hughton

Birmingham City have signed Republic of Ireland striker Caleb Folan and Cian Hughton — son of Blues manager Chris — until the end of the season.

Folan, 29, left United States side Colorado Rapids earlier this month while defender Hughton, 23, had been without a club since leaving Lincoln last summer.

The former Republic of Ireland U21 international will mainly work with the club’s development squad.

&Meanwhile Preston manager Graham Westley has backed Republic of Ireland U21 midfielder Adam Barton to successfully negotiate the ‘tough road ahead’ in his recovery from a dislocated ankle and broken leg.

Barton underwent surgery on Monday night to repair the damage he suffered in Saturday’s goalless draw against Walsall.

He’ll be out of action for the rest of the season, and while a frustrating few months lie ahead of the 21-year-old, Westley thinks that is a time which Barton can use wisely.

The operation to plate the broken legs was delayed by a day to allow the initial swelling from the injury to subside.

Westley said: “It went well, without complications, which is good.

“It is a tough road ahead for Adam but the good thing for him — if there is a good thing in such circumstances — is that a couple of months are the close season.

“In terms of game-time, he will miss less than he would have done at a different time of the year.

“We hope to have him back fit in four or five months. Adam is a strong lad and he’ll come back from this. In this case, the bones fractured when the ankle dislocated, so they’ve been plated and screwed back together.”