Cole, who scored one goal in five appearances for the Blues in the promotion run-in, has been linked with a permanent move to the West Midlands after failing to hold down a regular starting berth at Fratton Park.

But Bruce said: "I do not think it is possible to bring him in.

"He has got a year left at Portsmouth and we would have liked to have done something but certainly, with the wage levels he is at, we will not be able to."

Cole had also been linked with a possible move to Queensland Roar, however wage demands are believed to have been the major stumbling block.