Martin Taylor must wait for his Birmingham City return
MARTIN Taylor is going to have to wait for his first-team comeback.
The defender did not travel with the squad to Reading today.
Taylor returned for the reserves on Tuesday after completing a three-match ban for the Eduardo tackle.
But he is ring-rusty, and manager Alex McLeish said selection also depended on the form of other players.
"He is just back. It was his first game for four weeks in the reserves," said McLeish. "You also have to remember the guys in possession of the shirts at centre-half have done well. That is the unfortunate side of maybe being suspended or injury.
"If you exit the team and someone does well in your place, you can sometimes find it hard to get back in. It is a good battle between the centre-halves and it is up to Jaidi and Ridgewell to make sure they stay there."
"The squad has been ticking along nicely in recent weeks and I've had cover in certain berths," McLeish continued.
"I'm not so sure I need another centre-half on the bench.
"If we have an emergency in a game, there are adjustments we can make within the 11 on the field.
"Therefore I would see other positions as being more important on the bench than centre-half.
"Taylor is quite a fit big guy but until anyone gets back in the first team, it is only right they should play some reserve games.
"Queudrue, de Ridder and Schmitz have been playing there and it is the beauty of reserve team football."
As for the continued interest in Taylor, McLeish said: "Let him get on with his life."
