TWO new signings have helped lift spirits at the Pirelli Stadium says Nigel Clough.
The Brewers have brought in midfielder Martin Samuelsen and striker Darren Bent on loan from West Ham and Derby County respectively so far in the transfer window.
Clough says that has been a big boost to the squad.
“With Darren Bent it’s not just that he’s a new signing but also the quality of the signing as well that has lifted everyone this week, which we were in need of. Martin Samuelsen has done that as well. The third thing this week is that Liam Boyce is back in training. Those are all good positives for us going into tomorrow night.”
The Brewers take on Reading at the Pirelli Stadium tomorrow (kick off 7.45pm) but Clough says that it will be too early for Boyce and that fans need to be patient with Bent.
“Liam can’t go all out at present but even in his restricted state the quality is there to be seen in the training sessions. We have pencilled him in for the Birmingham Senior Cup in a couple of weeks but we will see how it goes.
“Darren has hardly played at all in the last six months. We will assess him, have a chat with him and see how he feels. We have Tuesday and Saturday games and we hope to get him out there for some part of it.
“You worry about throwing him in and getting a knock. The reason you get these lads on loan is that they haven’t been involved so we have to be careful but with someone with the experience Darren has then you hope he would give you a heads up and we will pick the team accordingly.
“The last thing we want is for him to pick up a groin or hamstring injury and be out for four to six weeks and then we lose all the benefit we are trying to gain.
“Darren and Liam haven’t had three games between them since July so we have to be patient.”