Birmingham doubt Nicklas Bendtner loan return

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce wants Arsenal's 19 year-old striker Nicklas Bendtner, but realizes that the promising striker is out of Birmingham's reach.

Bendtner has featured only four times for the North London giants this season, and has made it clear that he would like to receive more playing time, resulting in rumors linking him to many clubs. However, Arsene Wenger has stated that he will not allow the promising young Dane to leave the club. Bruce has taken this to heart and openly admitted that he has little chance of taking Bendtner back to Birmingham.

"If you look at us compared to last season then, for me, in a crucial area of the pitch up front, we are not as good as we were last year in the Championship because we are without Nicklas Bendtner," said Bruce.

"Strengthening in that area remains a priority and I've got to try and identify some people, that's for sure. But I really don't think there is any chance of us getting Bendtner back on loan. I really don't think there is any chance of that happening.

"I don't think that they would let him out for a start and there has been no conversation with Mr Wenger. It would be on my wish list but it is not going to happen."

The Arsenal youngster did enough with Birmingham last season to prove that he could soon become a force to be reckoned with in the near future, and the fact that Wenger will not let him leave on loan makes it clear that Wenger believes he is slated for great things.

Hopefully we'll see more of Bendtner on the pitch rather than in the news in the future, but for now let's just be happy he's staying with Arsenal.