Blues exercise Upson option

Birmingham have formally exercised the two-year option on Matthew Upson’s contract – and manager Steve Bruce is backing the defender to overcome the ruptured Achilles tendon which will sideline him for at least six months.

Upson, whose three-and-a-half-year deal was due to expire in June, is now contracted to the midlands club until the summer of 2008. He was due to undergo surgery today to repair the Achilles tendon.