Villa star turn convinced Bruce to buy Blake
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce revealed it was Robbie Blake’s performance against local rivals Aston Villa in the Carling Cup which persuaded him to buy the striker from Burnley.
Blake will go straight into the Blues squad for Saturday’s home FA Cup clash with Leeds after signing a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Bruce is hoping he will compliment the flourishing forward partnership of Clinton Morrison and Emile Heskey.
The 28-year-old already has 13 goals to his credit this season but it was his tormenting of the Villa defence in Burnley’s shock 3-1 win that clinched it for Bruce.
Bruce said: “He is someone I have seen over the past few years. He seems to have been around for ages even though he is only 28.
“He played against us pre-season 18 months ago and I’ve always been intrigued with his ability. You look at his goalscoring record, 22 last season and 13 this season, and we’ve got every faith that he can make the step up into the Premier League and he deserves his chance.
“I know he has played there before with Bradford but this is a big opportunity for him. We are aware that he can play in various positions but I’ve brought him here as a striker.
“We decided to buy him after he played against Aston Villa in the Carling Cup as a lone striker and caused them problems all night long.
“After that performance a couple of months ago, that was when we decided to go for him and he can be a good asset.”
Blake said: “It is a fantastic opportunity for me and I am really looking forward to the challenge. I played in the Premiership with Bradford three or four years ago and I was a bit inexperienced at the time and I’ve grown up now and am a lot more mature so hopefully I can take my chance.
“When the teams go up from the First Division, they struggle in the first season which is what happened at Bradford.
“But luckily I’ve managed to come to a club that is well established now with top-quality players, which hopefully is going to help me settle in.”
Bruce insisted he will field a full-strength side even though he lost Matthew Upson and David Dunn to injuries during last season’s competition.
He said: “It’s the FA Cup and you can be lucky with the draw and in five games’ time we could be in the final. It’s the best competition in the world as far as I am concerned.
“It will be fantastic if we go all the way. We had a massive opportunity last year. Let’s hope it’s our turn this year. Millwall showed what can happen last season.
“People ask if the FA Cup has become devalued but I think what has happened is that the Premiership has become that important because of the income factor and is the be all and end all, and in certain circumstances that is quite right.
“Some people are frightened to play their big players in case they get injured but I’m looking at it a totally different way.
“It is a worry that you can lose players, especially in this round after playing four games in nine games over Christmas and New Year. But I’m going to think ‘forget it’ and go the other way. I’ve experienced the joy of winning the FA Cup and know what it means.
“Leeds will bring a huge crowd. They’ve had a tough time and their fall from grace has been quite spectacular but when you look at the team they’ve still got people who can hurt you. They are not the force they once were but it will still be a test.”
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