Boss Jim Magilton says he is picking the brains of Alex Bruce ahead of Saturday's game against the defender's former club Birmingham. Bruce is unable to play in the match due to an agreement between the two clubs when Bruce joined the Blues from the club managed by his father in the summer.

Magilton says he was so keen to sign the Republic of Ireland U21 international that the arrangement wasn't a big concern: "It wasn't something that Steve and I came up with, but to be honest we would have done anything in order to get the deal done.

"In my view it was a small price to pay to get the boy here. He has been one of our best players so far this season.

"Just because he can't play on Saturday doesn't mean he can't play a big part for us. I have been picking his brains and he has been providing quite a few tasty tit-bits.

"We have our own scouting network in place and I have several reports on Birmingham. We always do our homework, but in Alex we could have a very useful ally.

"He can advise about certain strengths and weaknesses and you never know how a little piece of inside info might come in very handy."

Bruce is also unavailable for the Sunderland match next weekend after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Coventry on Tuesday.

Birmingham will be without loan striker Nicklas Bendtner after the loanee from Arsenal was red-carded in the Midlanders' 2-0 win at QPR on Tuesday night.

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