Town manager Joe Royle has revealed that striker Alun Amrstrong has been taken off the free transfer list. Royle made the former Stockport and Boro man available towards the end of last season.

Armstrong will start up front at West Brom on Saturday and Royle says that the 27-year-old has proved himself over recent weeks, telling the club site: "I questioned Alun's passion and desire to get back in the first-team at this club and the lad came up with the right answers.

"I have commended him for that and, with Marcus Bent on loan to Leicester, Alun will be staying at this club until at least the end of the season.

"That will take him to the end of his contract and it will be down to him between now and then to prove to the club that he deserves a new one."

Armstrong joined the Blues from Middlesbrough in December 2000 for a fee of £500,000.

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