Town's signing of veteran central defender James Collins is expected to be completed on Friday with manager Paul Lambert having said the 35-year-old Welshman could go straight into the squad for Saturday’s crucial home game against Rotherham United.
News of the Blues’ interest in Collins, who was on trial at Playford Road in September under Paul Hurst before ultimately signing a short-term deal at his former club Aston Villa which he subsequently tore up without playing a game after picking up a calf injury, first broke last night.
"James would be a free, he’s training with us and even the guy’s physical presence in the place is great,” Lambert said about the ex-Wales international, who was released by West Ham last summer.
"We look a big side and I think we needed that physicality back in the side as well, plus [the new signings are] good players.
"James has come in and trained for the last few days, and has done really well. Has been training at West Ham for a long time. He knows the game, he’s experienced and he’s certainly strong enough to handle this.”
Could he be involved against the Millers? "I’ll see how he feels, he knows his own head and his own body. I’ll decide from there. First and foremost we have to sign him, that’s still taking place. We’ll see.
"They’re talking at the minute, I’m hopeful that something will be done by the end of the day.”
Collins would be Lambert’s fifth signing of the window but he confirmed he’s still looking for further additions.
"We’ll try and do something,” he added. "I can’t keep flooding the place with loan. I can’t have more any more than five in a matchday squad. That’s where the loan system falls down, and then you’ve got to manage them, which is a difficult thing itself, which is why the loan market isn’t something I really want to do.”