BLUES ON BRINK OF QUASHIE DEAL

Quashie - set for loan move.

Birmingham hope to secure a loan move for Nigel Quashie in time for their next Championship fixture against Burnley on October 18.

The Blues have been tracking the West Ham midfielder for some time and are closing in on their target.

A one-month agreement has been proposed, with an option to extend that deal should both sides wish to do so.

Quashie has been training with Birmingham of late, featuring in two reserve friendlies and a practice match, and Alex McLeish is confident about bringing the experienced enforcer on board.

"We would hope to tie Nigel up on a month's deal with a view to extending that, if he proves his fitness," McLeish told the Birmingham Mail.

"Probably before Burnley we will get it done. With the amount of games coming after that, he would be a welcome addition. He has trained hard for a month but his circumstances have been unfortunate as he lost his mother.

"So in between us keeping him and getting him fit, getting him to prove he is over his injuries because there is a tendency to come back and pick up niggles, it's been stop-start due to his mother being ill and her death.

"He's got things to tend there before he can immerse himself right back into it again and we are very sympathetic to his needs at the moment."

McLeish has made no secret of his desire to bring in fresh faces as the Blues look to bounce back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

One of those currently in the frame to arrive at St Andrews is Togolese trialist Souleymane Mamam.

The former Manchester United trainee is out of contract after leaving Royal Antwerp over the summer and has impressed during two reserve run-outs.

The African is also waiting on a Belgian passport which would help avoid the need for international clearance before he could secure a move to England.

McLeish said: "He's been with us a while and he's still training with us.

"We've a game next week (a reserve fixture against Manchester City) and we'll make a decision after that. We have been impressed with his touch. He's a clever player.

"I'm not sure how dynamic he can be, but he can take a touch with his back to play, he can take the ball.

"He looks athletic enough to get out from the midfield, like (Sebastian) Larsson and (Kemy) Agustien are able to do."