Former Aston Villa defender is keen to help Birmingham City's Carlos Costly

Mar 10 2009 By Andy Walker

BLUES new-boy Ulises de la Cruz believes that he is the man to help Carlos Costly settle at St Andrew’s thanks to their Latino links.

The former Villa man became the fourth current Blues player, behind Liam Ridgewell, Kevin Phillips and Keith Fahey, to have links with both Second City clubs last week.

Signed on a short-term, one-month deal, De la Cruz has been drafted in by Alex McLeish to provide back-up to his injury-stricken squad.

The versatile 35-year-old has been without a club since being released from Blues’ Championship rivals Reading during the summer and revealed last week that he spurned offers from Watford and Coventry before joining Big Eck’s boys.

While bolstering Blues’ threadbare ranks, De la Cruz admits that he will also be on hand to help out a fellow team-mate with a Hispanic heritage.

The distance between Honduras and Ecuador may be more than 1,300 miles but the two nations have become closer down at Wast Hills training ground.