Loven the first degree for Clarkie

Best of luck to Peter Lovenkrands, who has joined Birmingham following his departure from St James' Park. The Dane - Lee Clark's first signing since being appointed Blues manager - may now be 32 and lacking the sort of pace he had when marauding down the flanks at Rangers, but he retains a reasonable eye for goal and a canny footballing brain and so should still have plenty to offer at Championship level. And, if Raylor's to be believed, plenty to offer his new teammates from his washbag, too.

Another story on the BBC site to catch my eye today concerned Junior Hoilett, out of contract at Blackburn. Steve Kean is likely to be disappointed if he thinks the winger-cum-striker will stay on at Ewood Park, but if Hoilett is to leave then it's worth noting that compensation will be required due to his age. We were repeatedly linked with a move for the Canadian earlier in the year, but the trail has gone strangely cold over recent months. Might we perhaps now be hoping that the sale of Leon O'Best will help to curry favour if, as I anticipate, any move for Hoilett quickly descends into a bunfight between a clutch of rival clubs?