On parade

By Colin Tattum on Jul 9, 09 10:27 AM

Just two of Blues new signings were able to train on the first day back.

And both - Stephen Carr and Lee Bowyer - are 'new' in the loosest sense of the word after having been on loan for the climax of the Championship campaign.

Ecudaor duo Christian Benitez and Giovanny Espinoza were in their native country as work permit applications began to be processed.

Benitez would not have been able to train anyway because of a shoulder operation at the end of May and Espinoza was to be given time off as well because of his
international commitments in the South American World Cup qualifiers.

Scott Dann had a minor knee operation at the season's end and was doing his rehabilitation away from the main group.

And Roger Johnson continued his comeback from knee and hip surgery alongside Franck Queudrue - who had a hernia operation in May - under the guidance of assitant physiotherapist Pete Shaw.

Due to his England under-21 exploits, Joe Hart has been given an extended break. Likewise Sebastian Larsson, who figured for Sweden in their games and was severly troubled by a shoulder problem in the last few weeks of the season.

David Murphy (fractured kneecap) and Liam Ridgewell (broken leg) were in the Wast Hills gym yesterday on the mend from injuries sustained in April.

And Stuart Parnaby was kept away from the main body of players who underwent a series of running-based exercises and drills because of a virus.

On a blustery Wast Hills day, it was heartening to see Jordon Mutch in full training again after the fractures to his feet.

Young bucks Jacob Rowe, Shaun Timmins, Jared Wilson, Ashley Sammons, Krystian Pearce and David Joyce were also out to impress, while Mitch McPike was nursing a niggle.

Quinton Fortune linked up with Blues, but not with a view to being signed, and Bobo Balde's training invitation was withdrawn. He's currently with Wolves in Australia.

Blues have again enlisted the services of former Villa and Leeds United fitness guru Steve McGregor, who runs his own consultancy Sports Science Solutions, to help oversee the initial phases of pre-season.

He and associate Mark Simpson, a strength and conditioning expert, are providing support to Blues fitness coach Ben Rosenblatt and Tom Page, the club's sports scientist.

There was an similar arrangement last year prior to the departure for the pre-season tour of Austria, and Simpson is going to continue working with Blues on a weekly basis.

McGregor is pictured making a point to Alex McLeish, who cast his beady eye over training along with first team coaches Roy Aitken and Andy Watson, and head physiotherapist Tim Williamson.

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