COVENTRY City boss Andy Thorn has completed his third new signing of the summer with experienced Irish international Kevin Kilbane as Gael Bigirimana is reportedly in the North East for talks with Newcastle.
The versatile 35-year-old, who can play at left-back or holding in midfield, has signed a one-year deal with the Sky Blues after starting pre-season training with the club.
Kilbane, who has 110 caps for his country and is nick-named Zinedine Kilbane by Irish fans, turned down the opportunity of a player/coach role at Championship club Barnsley to join the Ricoh Arena.
And Thorn is delighted to get his experience on board, knowing that fitness is not an issue for the evergreen player who prides himself on staying in tip-top condition. “He's been one of the front runners in all the running sessions we've had so far,“ revealed Thorn.
“He brings a wealth of experience, he's fit, he's a good talker, influential in the dressing room and he'll be great for the young boys. And I'm just delighted to have him on board. He's versatile and he'll be great for us.“
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Academy graduate Bigirimana is understood to have been at St James' Park yesterday to discuss a possible move to the Premier League club.
Manager Alan Pardew wants the ball-playing midfielder to join the club's development squad and City appear ready to cash in on one of the brightest talents to come from the youth system in years.
Kilbane (pictured) * who has expressed a desire to get involved in helping to develop the club's youngsters * would have been working with and playing alongside the likes of Bigirimana, who joined Coventry's set-up at the alan Higgs Centre as an 11-year-old, working his way up through the age groups until he made his first team debut, aged just 17, and going on to make an impressive 28 appearances for the Sky Blues last season.
He was also named Championship apprentice of the year for his progress in breaking into the first team, coupled with gaining qualifications at college and work in the community with his church.
rwanda's Junior Wasps coach richard tardy is considering recruiting Bigirimana into his provisional squad for the upcoming 2013 african U-20 Championship second round qualifier against Mali.
the teenager is also eligible to play for england * with whom he was on standby for the Under-19s last august * the Democratic republic of Congo and Burundi.
The versatile 35-year-old, who can play at left-back or holding in midfield, has signed a one-year deal with the Sky Blues after starting pre-season training with the club.
Kilbane, who has 110 caps for his country and is nick-named Zinedine Kilbane by Irish fans, turned down the opportunity of a player/coach role at Championship club Barnsley to join the Ricoh Arena.
And Thorn is delighted to get his experience on board, knowing that fitness is not an issue for the evergreen player who prides himself on staying in tip-top condition. “He's been one of the front runners in all the running sessions we've had so far,“ revealed Thorn.
“He brings a wealth of experience, he's fit, he's a good talker, influential in the dressing room and he'll be great for the young boys. And I'm just delighted to have him on board. He's versatile and he'll be great for us.“
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Academy graduate Bigirimana is understood to have been at St James' Park yesterday to discuss a possible move to the Premier League club.
Manager Alan Pardew wants the ball-playing midfielder to join the club's development squad and City appear ready to cash in on one of the brightest talents to come from the youth system in years.
Kilbane (pictured) * who has expressed a desire to get involved in helping to develop the club's youngsters * would have been working with and playing alongside the likes of Bigirimana, who joined Coventry's set-up at the alan Higgs Centre as an 11-year-old, working his way up through the age groups until he made his first team debut, aged just 17, and going on to make an impressive 28 appearances for the Sky Blues last season.
He was also named Championship apprentice of the year for his progress in breaking into the first team, coupled with gaining qualifications at college and work in the community with his church.
rwanda's Junior Wasps coach richard tardy is considering recruiting Bigirimana into his provisional squad for the upcoming 2013 african U-20 Championship second round qualifier against Mali.
the teenager is also eligible to play for england * with whom he was on standby for the Under-19s last august * the Democratic republic of Congo and Burundi.
