BIRMINGHAM CITY are considering a post-Christmas swoop for Newcastle United's out-of-favour full-back Andy Griffin.

Griffin has not started a Premiership match since the draw with Bolton on September 20 and the Blues are understood to be putting together a package to sign the player.

St Andrews boss Steve Bruce has become dependent on experienced skipper Jeff Kenna and sees Griffin as the ideal player to provide the competition he needs in defence.

Bruce watched the Newcastle right-back in action for the reserves in the 2-0 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night. He also cast an eye over Andy O'Brien and Hugo Viana.

Tough-tackling Griffin, who now starts a three-match suspension after being sent off for violent conduct in the reserves' recent game against Aston Villa, was booked during the first half of the Wolves match at Telford's Buck's Head ground.

But Bruce is an admirer of the player's no-nonsense style and is mulling over making a bid for the former Stoke City man when the transfer window opens in January.

Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson is likely to sell Griffin if the right deal comes along.

Robson is determined to solve his right-back problem and has already drawn up a list of targets.

The Magpies' Mr Versatile, Aaron Hughes, has been doing a convincing job in that position, but the Newcastle chief is keen to bring in fresh legs at full-back.

Tottenham's Stephen Carr has been high on Robson's wanted list for over a year, but he has also watched highly-rated Greek international, Giourgios Seitaridis.

Robson was in the Ibrox stands to see Panathinaikos beat Rangers 3-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

He was impressed with Seitaridis, who has built up a strong reputation for himself across Europe.

Barcelona, Valencia, Monaco, Borussia Dortmund and Schalke have all been credited with an interest in the young full-back.

Now it seems Robson is the latest to be weighing up a move for Seitaridis in January.

Panathinaikos are demanding a fee of around £2.5m for the 22-year-old but that would be no problem for Newcastle to match.

The Magpies have just finalised a £25m windfall after agreeing to extend their kit deal with adidas - on top of cash injections from Northern Rock and MGM.

Robson will be given a large chunk of that money to spend in the transfer market, with a right-back and a new striker high on his list of priorities.

Meanwhile, Gary Speed has set his sights on the UEFA Cup final ahead of today's third round draw.

Newcastle will be seeded for the draw in Switzerland and will avoid the likes of Barcelona, Roma, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Galatasaray and Celtic.

Speed is confident that Newcastle, who made it to the second group stage of the Champions League last season, can do what Celtic did in the UEFA Cup last time around and go all the way.

Speed said: "It's a big bonus being seeded with the Champions League teams coming in. It was important.

"Like Celtic did last season, we're looking to go all the way. Hopefully, we can do the same and whoever we get we won't be afraid of them.

"We're relishing it and it'll be interesting to see who we get."

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