Bruce nicks in for Nicky

Following a nightmare first season on Tyneside, Nicky Butt has bailed out and joined Birmingham on a season-long loan. The Blues have also been given first option to sign Butt for £2m next summer.

It looked like such a good bit of business last year - just over £2m for an England international midfielder to give our fragile defence a bit of protection - and yet it all turned sour with a red card in Europe, a series of awful performances and, to cap it all, his disgraceful shunning of the fans at the end of the FA Cup semi-final. Butt's passing has been routinely atrocious, and his commitment to the cause questionable at very least.

So, good riddance Nicky. Of course, it's sod's law that he'll have a blinding season and propel Birmingham to a better finish than us, and we'll regret agreeing to let him go...