Blues sign Costly striker

Well, how could anyone resist it?!

There's going to be plenty of more puns where that came from following Carlos Costly's addition to the ranks.

And life might just have got a bit more interesting at St Andrew's, judging from the stories coming out of Poland.

Now, I've met Costly (briefly) a year ago and he seemed a decent chap. And those at the club who have spoken with him say he's agreeable and raring to go.

In Poland, where he was playing for GKS Belchatow, it was anything but happy families.

The club president has had a pop at the Honduran (see tomorrow's Birmingham Mail) and various articles in the newspapers are less than complimentary.

Thanks to the help of Chris Lepkowski, our Albion expert (anyone guess where his family are from?), I can shed some light on his recent background.

Apparently, Costly went on holiday and decided he didn't want to come back and on another occasion, before a practice match, he refused to get off the team coach and instead said he would 'warm-up' next to the heater!

They called it the 'Carlos Costly Circus' in Poland and in his last match, in December against Legia Warsaw, he was sent-off, resulting in repercussions for Blues.

In fairness, Costly felt he was treated badly by Belchatow, and there have been mutterings from his camp of racism.

And he hasn't got any 'previous' when it comes to misbehaving.

Speaking to Alex McLeish about him, he said the 6ft 3in striker was enthusiastic, hungry and determined to make his mark.

If he shapes up, then Blues have the option to purchase him outright for about £2.5 million.

McLeisd said he doesn't think Costly will have a problem adapting to the Championship as he is a muscular player who is not afraid of the physical battle.

Last January transfer window, Costly had a short trial with Blues. So why didn't they take him then?

In a nutshell, Blues were in the process of arranging the Mauro Zarate deal, and were purchasing James McFadden.

New chief scout Paul Montgomery had been keeping tabs on Costly since and he provided a better fit now for Blues needs.

McLeish said: "He played in a practice match, scored, and did quite well.

"I thought to myself 'has he done enough?', and we needed help in the Premier League there and then.

"I was looking for a centre-half and a proven midfielder as well so we didn't take Carlos.

"But he's a boy who we like the look of and we are sure he can bring something to the team, he's had another year and is improving all the time."

There is just one more piece of business McLeish want to do before the window shuts on Monday - get that elusive centre-half.

Calum Davenport is his preferred choice, but at £3 million Blues have baulked at such a fee, plus wages in excess of £15,000-a-week.

The fact that Wolves are now on the scene for the West Ham United player heightens the stakes.

McLeish would like to buy him, the board feel a loan first would be more sensible.