Blues extend Powell trial

Birmingham are to extend the trial period of former Derby County skipper Darryl Powell who is seeking to win a contract at St Andrews.

Blues manager Steve Bruce has been impressed by Powell who played in a behind closed doors practice match with Blackburn Rovers on Monday.

But the City chief wants longer than the initial one week that Powell was to spend at the club to decide if he wants to sign the player.

Because he is out of contract and not attached to any club, City can sign Powell after the closure of the transfer window on August 31.

Bruce said: “He played in a practice game with Blackburn and he’s done very well. I am pleased with him.

“But he tells me that was his first game for six months and it is very hard for me to judge him on that and he is still working on his fitness.

“I’ll pull him in at the end of this week or early next week, but we are going to give him as long as possible.

“Let’s give him another three weeks or a month and we will see how it goes and we will see how it progresses. I am sure that Darryl is up for that as well.

“The good thing is that because he has got no club at present means he can be signed after the weekend deadline.”

Bruce admitted it would be unlikely that he would be bringing in any new faces before the closure of the transfer window.

He said: “We’ve got a couple of things in the pipeline but they are very, very far away and, unless something happens really dramatically over the next 24 to 48 hours, I would be surprised if anyone came in.”