Bruce takes his Kap off to Olly

Oct 31 2007 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

STEVE Bruce has praised the enigmatic talent of Olivier Kapo for providing his team with the gift of the unexpected.

The French attacker was brought in from Juventus for £1.3million to help boost Blues' firepower and creativity on their return to the Premier League.

And Kapo, who has performed in every department across midfield as well as up front, is living up to his billing, said the boss.

"We knew when we got him that he was quite a talent, but it hadn't gone as he would have liked for a couple of seasons," Bruce commented.

"He had been loaned out to Monaco and Levante and we felt we could give him a platform in the Premier League to kick-start his career again.

"Like we did when we brought in Christophe Dugarry, we've given him a lot of responsibility and he's responded."

Kapo scored his third and fourth goals for Blues as they came from behind twice to defeat Wigan Athletic at the weekend.

Bruce was actually just about to substitute Kapo and send on Gary McSheffrey when he struck a 20-yard winner from nowhere.

Kapo can drift in and out of games, but turned Saturday on its head in that moment.

Bruce smiled: "What sums him up is the way he took his penalty, trying to chip a nine-foot goalkeeper when clean through, and the wonderful strike that won us the game.

"He's got all the ingredients. He's a top-class athlete, he's supremely gifted and he has got a wonderful left foot.

"At times he is that easy-going, laid-back type. And he has had to adjust to the Premier League after the slower tempo of where he had been before.

"But Olivier's done a great job for us. He is very popular among the players and is no trouble at all."

Blues head to Everton on Saturday where Bruce will demand they tighten up.

"The goals we conceded against Wigan were self-inflicted," he said. "We gave them a lifeline.

"It was so unlike us and what we've been doing this season. One thing you do need to do then is dig deep, which we did.

"The substitutes helped us. Garry O'Connor gave us that presence and Seb Larsson did well too."

Larsson came on for Wilson Palacios and played in central midfield for 12 minutes.

Bruce pointed to his approach as typical of the team's in general.

"He was unfortunate to be out of the side because he was sick at Manchester City.

"Daniel de Ridder came on in that match and how could I leave him out after the performance he gave?

"But he showed a great attitude, Seb. Even after the game he walked straight up to de Ridder and congratulated him, and this is the player who has taken his position.

"It just shows you what a good spirit there is. They realise it's a squad game and sometimes you are not going to get a look-in and that you have to be patient.

"And, ultimately, it is the squad that will seal our fate."