Boss Jim Magilton says Richard Naylor's loan move to Leeds United doesn't signal the end of the long-serving defender's days with the Blues. The 31-year-old has joined the club he supported as a boy for a month.

Magilton told the club site: "Bam Bam is a top class professional and is one of those players that doesn't want to stand on the sidelines.

"It's an opportunity for him to go and play some football and obviously with Leeds being his hometown club and the one he has supported since he was young, it's got a lot of appeal for him.

"He's going there for the month and we will see how it works out, but that doesn't mean his career is over here, even if his contract is up in the summer. He can still have a part to play at this club."

Nevertheless, the Blues' willingness to allow Naylor to move even for a month suggests that a move for another central defender is very much in the offing with Iván Campo and Tommy Smith injured, Alex Bruce possibly moving on during the transfer window and Pim Balkestein being lined up for a loan spell to gain experience.

While former trialist Graham Gartland has joined Scottish Division One side St Johnstone, the Blues have been keeping tabs on Watford's Adrian Mariappa, like Bruce and Naylor out of contract at the end of the season, with coach Bryan Klug recently making a trip to Vicarage Road to watch the Hornets in action.

We understand that West Ham's Calum Davenport is another player the Blues have been keeping an eye on, although Birmingham are reportedly in talks with the 26-year-old, whose proposed move to Bolton fell through last week.

Stockport's Jimmy McNulty has also been linked in recent weeks, although the 23-year-old has tended to play at left-back more than centre-half.

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