Lee Clark is playing it cool over the possibility of signing up triallist Matty Pattison but admits he could be making his own job harder if the South African joins Birmingham City permanently.

The Blues boss worked with the 27-year-old when he was reserve team manager at Newcastle United several seasons ago.

And he recalls how Pattison, who played 53 minutes of Monday’s Under-21 match with Leeds, palled up with current Blues centre-back David Edgar and ex-England striker Andy Carroll.

“We are still helping each other out,” Clark said. “We are helping him train and get fit and see what we are about.

“I might be driving myself crazy if I was to reunite those two. Them and Andy Carroll gave us loads of problems when they were youngsters.

“He has been playing back home in South Africa. He was staying with Dave so we invited him in to have a look at him and see what he is about. We’ll go from there.”

Pattison came through the Newcastle youth set-up and made a handful of first-team appearances before moving to Norwich in January 2008. He returned to his homeland a year later and has been playing for Bidvest Vits.

In March 2008 he was convicted of drink driving and banned for 20 months.