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Crystal Palace star Ben Watson was withdrawn from a pre-season friendly after it emerged that he is being coveted by several Championship sides.

Copper-haired and bearing a striking resemblance to fellow redhead Steve Watson (no relation), Watson - who is one of the top midfielders in the division - was the subject of a £1.25 million bid from Queens Park Rangers that Warnock rejected.

But Nottingham Forest and Birmingham have joined the bidding for the £2m-rated playmaker (Daily Mirror), and two of the three were un-named clubs that had offers rebuffed on Wednesday night.

Palace boss Neil Warnock told the South London Guardian: "We have had a few more enquiries for Ben which is why I pulled him out of the game [against Bodmin Town] last night as I didn't want him injured.

"They were better bids but not acceptable."

There is all kinds of nonsense going on at Bristol City, after record new signing Emad Metab allegedly infuriated management by turning out for Al-Ahly in their Cairo derby win over Zamalek - after penning his deal with the Robins.

Reports in Metab's native Egypt claim the striker's contract has been torn up, while the player's agent says it was a "misunderstanding" and reports from Bristol imply that he was having problems with his work permit.

TT can clear a few things up - Egypt are ranked 24th in the world, and Metab is a regular international; indeed, he has been first-choice along with Wigan's Amr Zaki, since Mido's fall from grace. So a work permit cannot be the problem.

Furthermore, he signed his contract early last week, and was presented by City soon afterwards. So, unless the Robins provided him written permission to play for Al-Ahly (highly unlikely), he would have been more than aware as to who his boss was when the derby took place the following Sunday.

Either way, it could be good news for fellow vague-Arab Michael Mifsud. The Malta striker is keen to leave Coventry and City are understood to have made a £1.5 million bid for him, which has been accepted.

Reading striker Kevin Doyle has played down reports that he could return to the Premier League with West Ham.

After bursting into the Premier League with 13 goals in the Royals' debut season, he struggled as they went down the following campaign. But the Irishman is happy to ply his trade at a lower level.

"Once you get in the Premier League you want to stay there," he admitted. "But we're not, that's life and we now have to bounce back.

"The whole hype about the Premier League is bigger, but when you are playing in matches, it all seems the same to me. They are all nice grounds in the Championship."

Celtic defender Bobo Balde could be set for a move down south, with the Midlands looking particularly likely, according to his agent.

"There is significant interest from England and a number of clubs have told me they'd love to take him," Nick Oliver told the Daily Record.

"Birmingham and Wolves have both been on the phone and I've also been contacted by two clubs in France."

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has, however, baulked at the Guinean's wage demands, despite his availability on a free transfer.

"We don't pay that kind of money, we're not in that pay league. I haven't pursued it any further but I have registered my interest," 'Mick' said.

Reda Maher / Eurosport