Birmingham sign Martins on loan

(GETTY IMAGES)

Birmingham have completed the signing of former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins on loan for the remainder of the season, the club have confirmed.

The Nigeria international has completed his temporary move from Rubin Kazan after obtaining a work permit.

He becomes City's third signing of the transfer window after winger David Bentley joined on loan from Tottenham and central defender Curtis Davies arrived from Aston Villa in a £3.5million deal.

City's acting chairman, Peter Pannu, told the club's official website: "We are thrilled to have secured the three players in this window.

"It represents a comprehensive strengthening and support for our back four in Curtis, rejuvenation of the midfield in Bentley and further strengthening of the attack line in Martins.

"I am certain these new additions will augment and supplement what we already have and create some competition within the team for places which benefits the whole squad."

Pannu is also hopeful that winger Sebastian Larsson will sign a new contract after failing to agree personal terms with Newcastle and Villa.

Larsson is out of contract in the summer and previous attempts to reach agreement over a new deal at St Andrew's have faltered.

Pannu said: "Regarding Seb, although his agent had failed to reach any agreement with Newcastle and Villa , their loss may be our gain.

"Hopefully closer to the (summer) window, we can sit down with Seb again and, with the market tested by his agent , we can come to a sensible agreement finally."

Blues manager Alex McLeish has been determined to sign a striker with proven Barclays Premier League experience and Martins fits that bill.

During a three-year spell with Newcastle, he scored 39 goals in 105 appearances for the Magpies.

His form with Newcastle earned him a £9million move to German champions Wolfsburg in August 2009.

After a year in the Bundesliga, where he scored six times in 16 appearances, he was on the move again to link up with Russian Premier Liga champions Rubin Kazan in a deal in the region of 17million euros.

On the international stage, Martins has scored 18 times in 38 games for Nigeria.