Djimi Traore eager to earn Birmingham City deal

Feb 14 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail

Traore is unlikely to get near to a Blues debut some time soon as he hasn’t played a single first-team game during the 2008-09 campaign.

McLeish has already admitted that the signing of Traore was unexpected and that he will act as a capable player to call upon in the event of injuries and suspension.

The Blues backroom staff are currently working to get Traore’s fitness level and sharpness up to a standard for the Championship, much in the same way they are attempted to get on-loan striker Carlos Costly up to speed.

However, Traore believes that he is already fit enough to step up to the challenge of a promotion race in English football’s second-tier.

“I’m fit enough to play because when I was at Portsmouth, even when I wasn’t playing, I still worked hard in the day so that I was ready for whenever the manager would call,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve always been professional about these things.”