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Robert Tesche (l) also played for Arminia Bielefeld, SV Hamburg and Fortuna Dusseldorf before moving to England

Birmingham City have signed German midfielder Robert Tesche on loan for the rest of the season from Championship rivals Nottingham Forest.

East Germany-born Tesche, 27, who was signed by then Forest manager Stuart Pearce on a free transfer in August,. has made 25 appearances this season.

But he has not featured since Dougie Freedman took charge on 2 February.

And Blues have taken him on an emergency loan which will help plug the hole left by Stephen Gleeson's ban.

"We were quite a long way to doing this deal on Friday, so it's not a reaction to the Gleeson sending-off," Blues boss Gary Rowett told BBC WM. "It's more to add something to the squad. We've watched him quite a few times, so it's not just down to how he did when they played us earlier in the season."

Rowett's Blues heading in right direction again Birmingham City lie 13th in the Championship and 11 points clear of danger following Saturday's 1-0 win at home to Brentford, which ended an untimely run of eight Championship games without a win for Gary Rowett's men.

Tesche moved to the City Ground on a one-year contract following his release by Bundesliga side Hamburg.

He spent some of last season out on loan but returned to help Hamburg avoid relegation.

Tesche's arrival at St Andrew's further calms any fears of financial problems at Blues since the club's parent company, Birmingham International Holdings Limited, went into receivership last month.

Receivers Ernst and Young reassured the Football League on Friday that Blues have "sufficient funds" to complete the 2014-15 season and should not be deducted points.

And, in their first transfer market move since, Rowett praised Blues director Panos Pavlakis, who has been in charge of the club's day-to-day operation for most of the season, for pushing the signing through.

"The club, and Panos in particular, have been brilliant in helping us get this deal done," added Rowett.