Birmingham City in China - day 13

Monday:

There's a spring in the players' steps as they know that home is drawing closer. This has been a tough and draining experience for the Blues squad, but one that will surely benefit them and the club in the long run.

Training takes place at the basic yet suitable Ying Tung Stadium on yet another extremely hot and humid day.

Throughout this trip, it's been interesting to note that there's a certain three players that attract more attention from the Chinese than the rest of the squad - Ben Foster, Nikola Zigic and Cameron Jerome (Of course, pronounced Jeremy).

After a quiet morning session, training in the afternoon attracts a decent crowd of journalists and locals (who are soon exposed to Roger Johnson's colourful language). And true to form, one Chinese photographer strolls over and asks for mine and and Blues TV man Chris Coles' opinion on Foster, Zigic and Jeremy, who? Oh yeah, Jerome.

Bizarrely, training is occasionally interrupted by the sound of the 'Happy Birthday' tune. Turns out that's the noise that the local road sweepers drive along to.