Vickers blow for Blues

Vickers was named club captain in February

Birmingham City have suffered another defensive blow with the news that skipper Steve Vickers will miss the start of the season through injury.

The former Middlesbrough player has been forced to undergo knee surgery in a bid to cure a patella tendon problem.

The 34-year-old will now begin rehabilitation work but could be out of action until the end of August or even mid-September.

Blues miss out on transfer targets

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce had seen the experience of Vickers as vital to the club's first top-flight campaign for a decade and a half.

Vickers' know-how was invaluable in helping Blues clinch promotion via the First Division play-offs.

Darren Purse will have contract talks next week

Bruce already has to resolve the future of fellow centre-back Darren Purse after the player twice rejected a new contract offer last season.

Purse is now to have further talks about a long-term deal when Blues report back for pre-season training on Monday.

It was Purse's reluctance to commit himself to the club that led Bruce to replace him with Vickers as captain in February.

However, City chairman David Gold is optimistic that Purse will relent and put pen to paper, especially as the club are now back in the big time.

But Bruce knows that he still has to bolster the defence and has already confirmed his interest in Wimbledon's Republic of Ireland international Kenny Cunningham.