Nikola Zigic: Birmingham City re-sign Serbia striker

Nikola Zigic scored a total of 33 league goals for the Blues in an earlier four-year spell with the club

Birmingham City have re-signed striker Nikola Zigic on a deal until the end of the season.

The 6ft 8in Serbian, who was offered a new contract on reduced terms in the summer, had been training with Blues prior to being granted a work permit.

He has been without a club since his deal expired in June, but Blues had to clear all red tape hurdles before being allowed to restore him to the payroll.

Zigic, 34, first joined Blues from Spanish club Valencia in 2010.

Signed by Alex McLeish, he went on to become part of the Blues side that won the 2011 League Cup, scoring against Arsenal in the final at Wembley.

Zigic was criticised for a lack of effort in training in 2013 by then Blues boss Lee Clark, who dropped him from the team.

He eventually returned to the first-team squad, netting eight league goals last season to help keep Blues in the Championship - and remained resident in the West Midlands while he weighed up his future.

Zigic's signature will come as a further boost to a Blues side performing well under new boss Gary Rowett, having gone five games unbeaten since he took over, climbing clear of danger in the Championship and up to 17th.

He will not available to play until next weekend (13 December, when Blues host Reading), due to visa requirements- and will be back in Serbia for the next week.

Meanwhile, at a time when Blues are reportedly the subject of a takeover bid, a statement has been released by the club's parent company - Birmingham International Holdings Limited - saying that trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has been halted pending the release of a "clarification announcement".