Nottingham Forest are the latest club to be linked with a move for Town contract rebel Alex Bruce. The central defender has previously been mentioned in connection with possible moves to Preston, Norwich, Burnley, Leeds, Fiorentina, Napoli and Genoa.

New Forest boss Billy Davies is reportedly eyeing Bruce, although it increasingly looks as if the Irish international, who has turned down the offer of a new deal, will still be with the Blues when the transfer window closes on Monday. However, that wouldn't prevent a later move on an emergency loan to another Championship club.

Meanwhile, new signing Luciano Civelli has revealed his reasons for taking squad number 13, previously only worn at Town by keepers Clive Baker, Mike Salmon, Keith Branagan and Nick Colgan: "I know it is supposed to be unlucky in England and it is the same in Argentina.

"But it is the one I have always wanted. I played a lot of basketball when I was young and my favourite player wore 13.”

The 22-year-old admits that he is a little way from full fitness, having been at a pre-season training camp with former club Banfield prior to coming to England: "I have not played a game for six or seven weeks. I started pre-season on January 5th but I have not been allowed to do any ball work while the negotiations were going on.

"I have trained with my new team-mates for the first time and I enjoyed it.”

Civelli may be included amongst the subs against Plymouth on Saturday, but looks a few weeks away from starting a game.

Elsewhere, on-loan striker Jordan Rhodes says he was delighted to score his first Brentford goal in Tuesday's 3-0 victory over Aldershot: "Three goals and three points, that is why you play football. It beats playing in the reserves at Ipswich.

"The atmosphere was terrific, with passion flying everywhere and a few controversial refereeing decisions at times.

"There is no feeling in the world like scoring a goal. No matter where you score it, there is no feeling like it. It was something else and I can't take the smile off my face.”

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