New life for Sone

Blues teenager Sone Aluko is enjoying a new lease of life after going to Aberdeen on loan reports the Birmingham Evening Mail

The England under-19 star has suffered with a hernia injury since being named as a sub for Blues' first team two years ago but will aim to improve his fitness during his loan spell north of the border which runs until January.

Saturday is 'Six Pointer'

Birmingham City's basement clash with Bolton Wanderers has been billed as a 'six pointer' by Blues chairman David Gold.

Speaking to the Sunday Mercury Gold said: "It is a big game - you would have to say that at the moment Bolton have to be considered as one of the six teams that will be in the relegation battle."

Blues striker Rowan Vine could on his way to QPR reports tribalfootball.com

R's boss John Gregory hopes to snap up Vine on-loan as Birmingham seek to send away some of their fringe players to gain first-team experience.

Djourou to depart?

Arsene Wenger may recall Johan Djourou from his loan spell at Birmingham in January according a report in the Daily Mail

Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue could be absent from Arsenal for up to six weeks at the African Cup of Nations.

The 20-year-old defender is widely considered to be one of Arsenal's brightest talents.

Darius for Blues?

Ex Villa striker Darius Vassell heads a list of players Steve Bruce is looking to bring to St Andrews.

The former England frontman is excess to requirements at Eastlands since the arrival of Sven-Goran Eriksson and numerous sites report that the former England man is destined for Blues.

Chairman Ralph Gold has confirmed that Bruce is already on the lookout for January transfer window targets. "Steve is looking for players who will shortly be out of contract and there are a few on his list," Gold told BBC Sport

Bruce Almighty? ..

Is Steve Bruce really the man to take Birmingham City forward?

The Joys & Sorrow weblog examines the evidence as the club aim to make their mark on the Premiership once more.

Meanwhile, former Blue Stan Lazaridis is to serve a doping ban having failed a drugs test in his native Australia .. for hair treatment, as Sky Sports reports.