McLeish talks up Phillips role

Last Updated: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:34
Birmingham%20City

Alex McLeish says he turned down the chance to sign some experienced players last month because he has Kevin Phillips at his disposal.

The Blues boss had been heavily linked with moves for Tottenham's out-of-favour striker Roman Pavlyuchenko and Liverpool's unsettled winger Ryan Babel in the transfer window but neither deal materialised.

However, the Scot insists he is happy with the squad he has assembled at St Andrew's for the rest of the season and cited Phillips as the perfect example of a top-quality player he can turn to in the coming months.

He told the Birmingham Mail: "Now the window has shut, we move on with these players and we all have to recognise what they have done so far and place our faith in them to reproduce their performances again.

"Cameron Jerome and Christian Benitez have formed a very good partnership for us during the unbeaten run.

"And we have James McFadden who can play up front. It is not a position he is uncomfortable with.

"With Kevin Phillips, too, we have four very good strikers there."

He added: "I had numerous players put into me who had a reputation in the game, who were in their 30s," he added.

"I thought 'hang on a minute, I've got Kevin Phillips here'. He's still a terrific player.

"Because of the way we have played, he hasn't really had a look-in and he's naturally disappointed he hasn't figured as much as he would have liked.

"But there is every chance Kevin will see more game-time and make a contribution."



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