Colin Tattum runs the rule over Alex McLeish's summer transfer window signings for Birmingham City

Sep 4 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

JEAN BEAUSEJOUR: Perhaps somewhat unknown, but not to Blues’ scouts or the wider footballing world.

The stocky, strong and quick left winger impressed for Chile in the World Cup and Blues decided to take the plunge, for around £3.3 million from Club America, of Mexico.

Apart from his willingness to attack and probe in uncomplicated fashion – Alex McLeish believes he can bring something different to what his other wide players provide – Beausejour is team-orientated and won’t leave his full-back in the lurch. Charles who?

MARTIN JIRANEK: If you consider the experienced Czech, who has Euro, World Cup and Champions League participation on his CV, to be back-up, then it’s some back-up.

Whereas Blues had Giovanny Espinoza as first reserve last season until he was ushered out the door, Jiranek could – if he gets up to speed quickly – slot in quite seamlessly and give Roger Johnson and Scott Dann a run for their money.

Signed for a year from Spartak Moscow, Jiranek looks hard, as centre-halves should, but is not, by all accounts, merely a clogger.

ALEKSANDR HLEB: Probably the most talented signing since Christophe Dugarry. Blues pulled off a coup by taking the mercurial attacking midfielder from Barcelona on loan.

Hleb’s dribbling, his ability to weave and trick his way past opponents and his creative talents should add a new dynamic to Blues’ play in the final third.

Whether Hleb’s zip has been diluted after a rather unsatisfactorily spell at the Nou Camp – he was loaned to Stuttgart last season – remains to be seen.

But, for sure, one to get the juices going.