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No Shao for Blues

Image: Shao: No Blues move

Birmingham City's hopes of landing Shao Jiayi have evaporated after he failed to obtain a work permit.

China international refused work permit

Birmingham City's hopes of landing Shao Jiayi have evaporated after the China midfielder failed to obtain a work permit. Shao impressed during a recent trial with the Championship outfit and manager Alex McLeish was keen to add the 28-year-old to his squad in a bid to bolster his midfield options. However, the Energie Cottbus player is now resigned to staying in Germany until the end of the season before he looks for a new club. "I found out on Monday that my work permit application was declined, despite the fact that I have played in Germany for so many years" he told Sina.com. "The Football Association have strict rules regarding work permits so I have to accept that rules are rules. I will not be appealing their decision. "I will now concentrate on playing well for Cottbus over the next six months before deciding what I want to do next." Shao, who has over 40 international caps to his name, has struggled to break into the Chinese national team over the past 12 months due to poor form and a string of injuries.

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