Birmingham boss tempted to give Benitez full debut at Hull
Sep 18 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish looks set to give in to the temptation of handing exciting Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez his first Premier League start at Hull City tomorrow (3pm kick-off).
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Benitez has made an appearance as a second-half substitute in all five of Birmingham’s league fixtures this season but has yet to be given his chance from the start in the English top-flight.
While McLeish has so far resisted due to tactical reasons, fitness concerns and Benitez’s long-distance travelling for international duty with Ecuador, intense pressure has started to build from the St Andrew’s stands with Blues fans eager to see more of their South American hero.
However it looks as though those supporters will have their calls answered tomorrow, after McLeish hinted that he is ready to unleash the 23-year-old from the beginning against the Tigers at the KC Stadium.
McLeish has compared the gradual introduction of Benitez to that of current Lazio striker Mauro Zarate, the young Argentinean who showed glimpses of magical talent while on loan at Birmingham for the second-half of the 2007/08 Premier League season.
