McFadden told to stay at Blues

Scotland assistant boss Terry Butcher has urged James McFadden to stay at Birmingham until the time is right to return to the SPL.

Butcher was something of a mentor for the forward at Motherwell prior to his switch to Everton and he has now told the Scotland star to sit tight for now.

"Give it time and that move will maybe happen for him one day," Butcher told the Scottish Sun. "I suspect it probably will. I just don't think that time is right now.

"I just think the way he goes about his business as a Birmingham City player helps unite all the Scotland fans.

"If you play for one of the Old Firm there will always be people, no matter what you do, who won't like you."

McFadden's agent Willie McKay this weekend confirmed the player wants to quit St Andrews.

McKay said: "James has told me that he wants to leave.

"He is happy when Alex McLeish gave him an opportunity to play first-team football every week but it's a short career and he wants to play at the highest level."