Sheffield Wednesday: Garry Monk makes big James Beattie claim ahead of Birmingham City reunion

The former England striker was expected to move to Hillsborough shortly after Monk's appointment in early September.

But the two clubs have been unable to thrash out a compensation package and Beattie remains Blues’ first team coach - albeit having been redeployed, initially into a role scouting their opponents.

Monk, who faces Birmingham tonight for the first time since being sacked last summer, has so far only made one addition to his backroom team, bringing in performance analyst Ryan Needs to his coaching staff.

Asked if there had been any development in Beattie's situation, Monk said: "No, nothing at all.

"Ive brought Ryan in. As I said, I’m not fully aware – I’ve been focused on my job here – and the last I was aware he (Beattie) has been working from home for the last two months.

"The only ones I expect (to see of his former backroom staff), the last I was aware of, are Darryl Flahavan and Sean Rush, who we’ll probably see on Wednesday so it’ll be good to see them."

Speaking at his pre-Birmingham press call yesterday, Monk slammed his former assistant Pep Clotet, saying he made an "error of judgement" working with the Spaniard. Monk accused Clotet of being disloyal after Clotet replaced him at St Andrew's following Monk's sacking by text message last June.

"Unfortunately, I didn't listen to a lot of people in football circles who warned me about him," said Monk. "That's an error of judgement from myself. I don't speak with him.

"What's most important to me when I'm assembling a staff is to give them an opportunity and show them complete trust, and that they repay that trust."