James McFadden has a licence to roam for Birmingham City

Nov 28 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail

ALEX McLeish has handed his talisman a licence to roam and he wants him to use it.

Whether he frustrates or fascinates you, there’s no doubt that James McFadden is a mercurial talent capable of winning a football match in a single moment.

Since bringing him to St Andrew’s from Everton in January 2008, Blues boss McLeish has constantly searched for ways to bring out the best McFadden has to offer.

And Big Eck’s latest plan is for his compatriot to throw off the shackles of defensive responsibility and venture forward with menace.

It already appears to be paying off – take last Saturday against Fulham for example. McFadden drifted in from the left before delivering an inch-perfect throughball that set up Lee Bowyer for the match winner.

“We’ve looked for James to give us more in forward areas, to be more free in his game and not to be thinking too much about defending,” explained McLeish. “We want him to play with a smile on his face because that’s the type of player everybody recognises.

“Like all the forwards, James has got to make sure that with his final decision, he gets more right then he does wrong and last Saturday against Fulham he made another telling contribution.

“There was great chemistry between the forwards (V Fulham), great interaction and that’s what you’re looking for from your players, that is what we work on on the training ground.

“The more players play with each other the more they get to know each other’s game. Chucho is still learning about our other players’ strengths.”