Defender Johan Djourou will definitely return to Arsenal next month after spending the first four months of this season on loan at Birmingham.
The 20-year-old Switzerland international followed the likes of Fabrice Muamba, Sebastian Larsson and Nicklas Bendtner in going on loan from the north London club to City, but Arsene Wenger now wants Djourou back.
The key reason is the absence of centre-back Kolo Toure for around a month while he plays in the African Nations Cup with Ivory Coast.
Blues boss Alex McLeish told the Birmingham Mail: “Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has told me he is taking him back in January.
“He will be a loss, for sure. It is disappointing that he is not going to be with us for much longer.”