Nafti ruptured ligaments in his right knee last August

Mehdi Nafti continued his quest to secure an unlikely place in Tunisia's World Cup squad with his second run-out for Birmingham City's reserves on Monday.

The midfielder ruptured cruciate ligaments in his right knee during a pre-season friendly last August and has yet to play a first-team match this campaign.

Yet the 27-year-old completed 70 minutes for the reserves on Monday night and is hoping he can get himself into national coach Roger Lemerre's plans before the World Cup kicks off in June.

Nafti was an integral part of the Tunisian team that won the Nations Cup in 2004 and is desperate to play in his first World Cup finals, having been left out of the Carthage Eagles' squad for the 2002 edition.

However, Birmingham boss Steve Bruce does not want the Tunisian to rush his comeback.

"Nafti is doing his utmost to go to the World Cup," Bruce explained.

"But we have learnt the rehabilitation and time after serious injuries is vital.

"You can tell the kid has had a serious injury even though he has been training for four or five weeks."

"We are not going to see the best of him until possibly after pre-season," he added.

Nafti signed a three-year deal with Birmingham in June 2005, joining the club from Racing Santander of Spain.