St Andrew's will be a quieter, less colourful place for the departure of Clinton Morrison - but Birmingham City seem to have done well out of a deal that takes the striker to Norwich City for £2 million.
Morrison, who represented the Republic of Ireland against Italy on Wednesday night, returned to England yesterday and immediately travelled to Norfolk to seal a move that will revive his club career.
Steve Bruce, the Birmingham manager, says he will miss Morrison but time has moved on and the player has been surplus to requirements for almost six months.
Morrison was the fourth-choice striker for Birmingham - behind Emile Heskey, Mikael Forssell and Walter Pandiani - and would have spent much of this campaign warming the substitutes' bench.
Ever the realist, Morrison knew it was time to move on. Ideally, he would have preferred a move to a Premiership club, but Norwich are as ambitious as it gets in the Coca-Cola Championship and he may yet return to the top flight with his new club.
Bruce worked with Morrison during their days together at Crystal Palace. Having taken over as manager of Birmingham, he then signed the striker for £4.25 million in the summer of 2002. The deal saw Andrew Johnson move in the opposite direction.
Bruce wanted to keep hold of Morrison but the player only had a year remaining on his contract and is desperate for regular first-team football.
"A fee in the region of £2 million has been agreed between the two clubs," Bruce said. "He flew into Stansted this morning [ yesterday] and went on to Norwich. It was one of those situations where, with a year to run on his contract, we were facing the prospect of losing him on a free transfer next summer.
"Clinton had become a little frustrated by not playing. I understand that as well, so it was in the best interests of both parties that he should move. There were four clubs interested and Norwich were the only one to match the asking price.
"The other clubs were Southampton, Crystal Palace and Cardiff City. Sunderland were mentioned in the press, but they have not made any contact.
"I'm sorry to see Clinton leaving as I have worked with him for five years at Crystal Palace and Birmingham and he is always a good character to have around the place.
"I will miss him. Although he has played as often as any other Birmingham striker, it has not quite worked out for him and I hope that in the future he has a little more luck in front of goal."
Morrison, aged 26 , scored 14 goals in 87 Premiership appearances for Birmingham - He was playing the best football of his career a year ago when he sustained an injury and he became increasingly frustrated.
He played the final minute of the match away to Fulham last Saturday but that was hardly a mandate from Bruce. A parting has been inevitable for some time.
His move to Carrow Road will see him form a formidable partnership at Championship level with Dean Ashton, who looks like staying with Norwich, despite interest from Wigan Athletic.
On the international front, Morrison has warned France that Ireland will be "in their face" when the two teams meet in a World Cup qualifying match next month.
Morrison believes France need to be roughed up if Ireland are to pull off a Group Four victory in three weeks' time, to keep them on course for the finals in Germany next June.
"We have to knock France out of their stride," Morrison said. "But if we don't put away our chances and we don't defend well, then we will pay for it. We don't deserve to qualify if we do that.
"At least it will be a different team when we do play France. It will help with Roy Keane in the middle of the park and Robbie Keane up front. We'll be a different proposition."
