Birmingham defender Stephen Carr retired from football last season until persuaded by Blues boss Alex McLeish to make a comeback during the second half of last season. The former Tottenham and Newcastle player has now been rewarded with a new two year contract this summer after Brum won promotion to the top flight.

The 32-year-old said: "I've got another opportunity, one that I have to admit I never thought would come again when I retired last year because there was no-one interested in me.

"It will be great to play in the Premier League again and I'm very grateful to the club for giving me that chance.

"Football can be funny like that. One minute there are no offers at all on the table and then the next I'm preparing for Premier League football again."