Bruce keen to bolster Blues

Steve Bruce is looking to bring in “two or three more players” before the January transfer window closes after admitting his Birmingham squad has been unable to cope with this season’s massive injury list.

Bruce has already signed striker Chris Sutton from Celtic until the end of the season with a view to the player extending his stay for another 12 months if that suits both parties.

But the City manager is aware that he needs more new blood to help Blues in their uphill battle to survive in the Barclays Premiership.

Bruce was disappointed to lose out to Wigan for the signature of Austria international defender Paul Scharner after tracking the player for several months.

He said: “I’d like two or three more players in if I could. I keep reading about Newcastle United and the problems they’ve got. We’ve faced those sort of problems for six months!

“Our squad hasn’t been able to cope. I thought it might – but it hasn’t. It has taught us all a harsh lesson of how tough and unrelenting the Premier League is.

“I’ve said repeatedly that I’m not just going to bring in people who won’t improve us and usually the big clubs, the better clubs, don’t let their best players go.

“We always know there might be a row, a fight or a fall-out or someone wants to generate a bit of money. If that’s the case, we’ll have a look.”

Bruce is set to ring the changes for the trip to Charlton this weekend after the inept performance in the goalless draw at Torquay in the FA Cup.

Mario Melchiot, Matthew Upson, Muzzy Izzet, Mikael Forssell, David Dunn and Jamie Clapham all missed the trip to Plainmoor through injury but Bruce is hopeful at least some of them will be fit to face Alan Curbishley’s side.

He said: “When it comes to Charlton, hopefully we’ll have another six or seven players available for selection. That is the biggest weapon I can have because after Saturday they need a kick up the backside.”