Birmingham boss Bruce: No decision over keeper

Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce admits the No1 jersey is up for grabs after the capture of Ghana international Richard Kingson.

Colin Doyle ended the Championship campaign with the jersey after replacing the axed Maik Taylor in February, while Kingson isn't regarded as a first-choice No1.

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"Maik has got to an age where he wants to play, I understand that," said Bruce. "But I have got no preconceived ideas at the moment about who the No.1 is.

"Doylie did very, very well towards the end of last season. At the time I made the change, I just felt the pitch had affected Maik a little bit as well and it needed a freshening up.

"But as for this season, I have nothing set in my mind."

Bruce explained his reasoning for adding another keeper.

"In the Premier League most teams have got three keepers. You can't borrow or loan like in the Championship," he said. "If something had happened last season, then I could have taken someone from somewhere. That's not possible in the Premier League unless it's a dire emergency.

"You have to have three keepers registered and if you remember that scenario a few years back when we had to get Andy Marriott in after Nico Vaesen and Ian Bennett got injured, I don't want to gamble again.

"If in March, say, Maik or Doylie breaks a finger or whatever, I don't want to risk putting a kid on the bench. Richard has got good experience, he has good know-how and for a couple of years contract it's a no-brainer.

"And, of course, his signing also puts competition on Maik and Doylie - it will be one from three."