Birmingham City: Alex McLeish grateful for international break

Mar 23 2009 By Andy Walker

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish is pleased that his side now face two fixtureless weekends.

Having drew 1-1 at home to Norwich City on Saturday, Birmingham’s next opportunity to gain crucial Championship points will be the crunch Monday night encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers on April 6.

In the meantime the Blues will enjoy a welcome break for the international football fixture schedule

Rather than being concerned with any loss of momentum, McLeish is pleased that his squad now have the chance to clear up injuries and edge towards a fully-fit outfit for that important match-up at home to Wolves.

Strikers James McFadden and Marcus Bent as well as right-back Stuart Parnaby are some of the names who could be back in contention in two weeks time.

“The break is good for us from the point of view of players being on the verge of fitness again and not actually missing games,” said McLeish. “It means that they will work over their fitness in the next two weeks and will probably be available for the Wolves game.

“They will train the first few days of this week and then we will give them a break to recharge their batteries and we’ll have them back with plenty of time to prepare for the Wolves.