Bruce backs Forssell

Steve Bruce has insisted he has no regrets about re-signing Mikael Forssell despite the Birmingham striker’s lack of goals during the first half of the season.

Bruce was aware the Finland international would take time to recapture his best form after his £3m (€4.4m) permanent move from Chelsea following a lengthy lay-off from knee surgery.

But Forssell’s gradual progress towards full sharpness was then halted by a thigh injury which meant a further month on the sidelines.

Now he is back in contention to play some part in this evening’s Barclays Premiership clash at Manchester City with Bruce convinced he will eventually recapture his touch.

Bruce said: “We all remember how well Mikael did for us two years ago when on loan with his 19 goals.

“Last season he played two games and then basically at the end of August it all finished for him.

“We realised when we were bringing him back here in the summer that it had been a serious knee injury but we think he can only get better.

“We have seen him train well the last two or three days so he has come straight into the equation for the Manchester City game because he is exactly what we are looking for.

“We are looking for a goalscorer and we all know Mikael with his record is capable of doing that. I've no regrets about signing him.

“But he has only started seven games, Walter Pandiani has only started five games so we are looking for a much bigger and better return in the second half of the season.”

Blues registered their first home win of the campaign against Fulham last weekend after a more committed performance but it still left them four points adrift of safety.

Bruce said: “It was a better performance. It was not the greatest of performances but we got a result which keeps us in among it and that’s going to be the story for the next three or four months.

“We’ve got a fight on our hands because of the terrible start we have had and there are five or six of us in there. We hope someone else is dragged into it. We need to keep picking up a few results.”

Central defender Martin Taylor will hope to earn a recall alongside Matthew Upson after recovering from the hip injury suffered against West Ham 12 days ago.

But defender Mario Melchiot (thigh) and midfielder Muzzy Izzet (hamstring) are expected to be out of action for another three weeks and will miss all of the festive programme.