Birmingham City have announced three pre-season fixtures that will form a tour of Austria next month.

The Blues open the tour in Westerndorf on July 14, where they will face Austrian non-leaguers Kirchbeg.

Three days later, they play Czech Republic top flight side Victoria Plzen in St Johann.

They wrap up the tour with a match against relegated Bundesliga outfit Nuremberg in Salzburg.

Manager Alex McLeish believes some time away from England will be vital for team bonding before the Championship season begins on August 9.

He said: “”The facilities are good, the surroundings are good and the level of opposition is the right build up for us.

“I have got many years of experience of going on pre-season tours, so we did not choose it lightly.

“It wasn’t just a case of putting a drawing pin in the map and saying let’s go to Austria!

“We had offers to go to other places but I just felt this was the proper preparation. It is good for the players to get away from the training ground and the scenery that they are used to every day.

“It gives them a little bit of freshness. It is also good for bonding and team spirit.

“We will train every day and relax together and everything will be about knitting the team and players together.”