The seven unwanted West Midlands players on big money contracts who can't get a game... or a move away

QUESTION: What boasts 14 legs, 1,067 Premier League appearances, 63 goals, cost £28.5m to assemble and £300,000 per week to run? 

ANSWER: The seven players who make up the West Midlands bomb squad. As in bombed-out.

The septet form a unique club at Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers where names and reputations clearly count for little.

Protected by salaries that are - in some cases - in excess of £60,000 a week, they have all been deemed surplus to requirements by their respective clubs and are, without exception, all available for transfer.

In nearly all of these cases they also find themselves training either with the academy or the development squad as the protection of heavyweight contracts prevents them from being shipped out to any interested party.

Here, we assess the seven and their club’s chances of unburdening themselves before the transfer window closes.

Happy clapper: Sarcastically applauding supporters was the last straw for Jamie O'Hara at Wolves

Jamie O’Hara (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 

Two summers ago, the former Spurs trainee arrived with a £5m price tag, a five-year contract, a model girlfriend and hefty reputation.

While O’Hara’s home life has certainly blossomed with the arrival of his two sons and marriage to former Miss England, Danielle Lloyd, his football has taken a decided turn for the worse.

As part of a squad that has suffered two successive relegations, O’Hara was singled out, the nadir of his time at Wolves coming on the day their demotion from the Championship was sealed at Brighton last season.

He sarcastically applauded upset travelling supporters as he was substituted. That proved the final straw.

Although he has reported back to Molineux in fine fettle, he remains on the outside, looking in, as Kenny Jackett attempts to breathe life back into the Black Country club.

Chances of moving: (out of five) 1

Hungover: Roger Johnson's (left) stock at Wolves has fallen after he arrived for training worse for wear

Roger Johnson (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 

Signed for £4m from Birmingham City following their demotion from the top flight, the centre-half suffered the ignominy of being part of a Wolves team that followed their near neighbours into the Championship 12 months later.

Promoted to the position of captain by Mick McCarthy, Johnson was subsequently omitted from the team and blotted his copybook following a five-goal thrashing at Fulham. The next day Johnson turned up for training worse for wear and his stock in the eyes of Wolves fans plummeted.

He failed to reach the level of consistency he enjoyed at Birmingham City and, after he attempted to hand his Wolves shirt to a travelling supporter on the final day at Brighton, he found it thrown back at him.

Chances of moving: 2

Priced out: Shay Given is still a talented keeper at 37-years-old but few clubs can aford his wages

Shay Given (Aston Villa) 

The legendary Ireland international has cut a peripheral figure at Villa Park since losing his place to Brad Guzan early last season.

He was binned after just two matches - a harsh reflection for a man whose performances under Alex McLeish were laudable.

Despite his glorious past, Given is now 37 years old. However, he has three years left to run on a monstrous contract.

Could clearly still do a job, but who can afford him? 

Chances of moving: 1

Pain in Spain: Alan Hutton (right) almost secured a permanent move to Real Mallorca but couldn't agree terms

Alan Hutton (Aston Villa) 

The full-back is more of a regular for Scotland these days than Villa. Signed by Alex McLeish for £4m, he is another who has been jettisoned by incoming boss Paul Lambert.

Spent last season on loan at Real Mallorca who attempted to sign him on a permanent deal in the summer but they could not agree personal terms.

Another whose contract is shielding him from a potential move.

Chances of moving: 1

Square peg: Stephen Ireland will argue he hasn't been given a chance in his favourite position by Paul Lambert

Stephen Ireland (Aston Villa) 

A complex but engaging character who made his name at Manchester City before moving to Villa Park in 2010.

His undoubted talent has rarely shone through at Villa Park under a succession of managers. He would argue in return that he hasn’t been given a consistent run of games in his favourite position.

He may have a point. Another who has one year left to run on big money. But he spent last season out in the cold, another 12 months may hurt Villa more than it pains him after he was unsympathetically dumped.

Chances of moving: 1

Pocket Xavi: Barry Bannan may have to move down to the Championship to get some playing time

Barry Bannan (Aston Villa) 

Like Hutton, Bannan is a man whose call-ups by Gordon Strachan have become the highlight.
Described as: ‘a pocket Xavi’ by former Villa boss Gerard Houllier, the midfielder was given a chance to shine by Paul Lambert but slipped from the reckoning as Villa’s season hit rock-bottom last term.

Has had interest from Blackburn Rovers during the summer but another who may need to drop down to the Championship to kick-start his career.

Chances of moving: 3

Rebel yell! Peter Odemwingie's QPR transfer saga has seen him fall out of favour at the Hawthorns

Peter Odemwingie (WBA) 

Perhaps the strangest situation of the lot. The former Nigeria striker has fallen out of favour after his on-off proposed transfer to QPR ended.

He has 12 months left on his contract and is being chased by several Premier League suitors, despite West Brom’s obvious need for a goalscorer.

The depth of his split appears to have scuppered any chance of reconciliation. At the moment, it seems more a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ the forward moves on.

Chances of moving: 5