Football: Birmingham debut for Pandiani

WALTER PANDIANI is likely to make his debut for Birmingham City against Southampton tonight after completing his last-minute loan signing from Deportivo La Coruna just before the transfer window closed at midnight on Monday.

"The transfer came very late, and we had to get people out of bed," the Birmingham manager, Steve Bruce, said yesterday of his new 28-year-old Uruguayan striker. "We didn't think it was going to be possible at one stage. I heard that he was on the verge of a move to Fiorentina, but somehow that went by the wayside. We've got somebody who will intrigue the whole of football. This is a big name and a big player in Spain. He's a very, very good striker."

Bruce has also signed Mehdi Nafti, a 26-year-old Tunisian international, on loan from Racing Santander. Arsenal's Jermaine Pennant could follow, depending on the outcome of the winger's court case for drink-driving and driving while disqualified.

In the Championship, West Ham United have signed a 19-year-old goalkeeper, Dusan Kuciak, on loan until the end of the season from Slovakia's MSK Zilina.

The Celtic defender Bobo Balde, who had been tipped to move to England during the transfer window, signed a four-and-a-half year contract extension yesterday.

"My heart has been with Celtic for some time and that was a big factor in my decision," Balde said. "I want to help Celtic try to retain the championship and again experience big European matches as we have done in the recent past."