Birmingham City: Defender Stuart Parnaby happy to be back after injury run

Aug 29 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

STUART Parnaby has outlined his desire to do whatever it takes to help Blues achieve their goal of survival of this season.

Parnaby had been helping out as a makeshift left-back before Gregory Vignal signed, and then Stephen Carr was moved across to that flank for the visit of Stoke City.

That enabled Parnaby to adopt his more natural right-back berth, where he had excelled last season before injury dogged him.

“It was a conscious decision by the manager to swop us over. Stevie had done it for Newcastle United and was happy to do it again,” said Parnaby, who set up Blues’ winner in the Carling Cup tie at Southampton on Tuesday.

“I would have done it had he wanted me to play there at left-back again, wherever.

“I think everyone knows that it’s my favourite position at right-back, where I’m most likely to do well.

“But I’ve played left-back for Middlesbrough. Throughout my career I have had to fill in there. It’s never been a long-term situation, though.

“I’m no going to moan about it, I just get on with it.

“It’s just nice to be involved again. I missed too much of last season because of injury to my quads.

“For the first part of last season it was brilliant. I played every game and I felt as good as I have ever felt.

“Then things happened to me and maybe it was too many games coming thick and fast in that Championship. I just couldn’t get right quickly enough.