No old pals' act for Blues' Garry O'Connor

Jan 18 2008 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

FROM Russia... but not with much love.

Not tomorrow, anyway, if Garry O'Connor ends up facing Chelsea's new signing Branislav Ivanovic.

The Londoners' £9million signing from Locomotive Moscow was a team-mate of the Blues striker in the Russian capital.

O'Connor has a high regard for the Serbia and Montenegro centre-half, but will be out to get the better of him at St Andrew's, if they are selected.

"I always knew he would end up in a good team, a world-class team," he said.

"Hopefully he gets a game and we can come up against him and see how good a player he is.

"I think he will be suited to this kind of game. He's an athlete, he's strong, he's powerful, I think he can play with the ball. He's got everything.

"I'm sure you maybe saw him in the under-21 European Championship, he captained Serbia there.

"I think it's a good catch by Chelsea to get him."

"His best positions is suited to right-back," O'Connor added.

"He was a fantastic player for Locomotive and I'm not sure why his move didn't happen earlier. I think he can be a big star here."