Blake can be Blues hit - Bruce

Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce is confident that Robbie Blake can emulate Clinton Morrison in successfully making the step up into the Premiership.

Blake’s move from Burnley to St Andrews in a £1.5m (€2.1m) deal is formally expected to go through in the next 24 hours subject to the player agreeing personal terms.

Morrison initially took time to adjust life in the top flight after his transfer from Crystal Palace to Blues in the summer of 2002 and he was handicapped by injuries.

But he impressed in partnership with Mikael Forssell during the second half of last season before continuing that form alongside Emile Heskey during the current campaign and Bruce believes Blake can also make the transition.

He told PA Sport: “We are meeting Robbie and his advisors over the next couple of days and we hope when people go back to work at the Football Association that we can sign someone!

“It is vital that we are bringing a new striker in. With Dwight Yorke being injured, in the last two or three weeks we’ve only had two strikers and that’s not been healthy.

“It means that Clinton Morrison and Emile Heskey have had to play four games in nine days and we’ve been praying that we didn’t pick up another injury.

“I’ve not been comfortable with just having Clinton, Emile and Dwight when he is fit. It’s not healthy and we are hoping signing Robbie will help us to address that problem. You need four strikers.

“I know Robbie hasn’t played in the Premiership and in that respect it might be a bit of a gamble but we’re very confident in his ability to make the step up.

“Look at Clinton. he came to us right at the start of our time in the Premiership and he has played his part for us.

“When Christophe Dugarry left mid-way through last season, he came in and did well alongside Mikael Forssell and it’s been the same in recent weeks with him and Emile in partnership. They have been on fire.

“He has showed that he was capable of making the step up and I am confident that Robbie will be able to do the same.”