Kevin Phillips accepts his days at Birmingham City may be numbered after revealing boss Alex McLeish has told him he can leave the club.

The 37-year-old striker signed a one-year extension to his contract last summer but missed the start of the season with a thigh injury and has made only eight appearances this term, scoring once.

Phillips said: "I've had a chat with the manager and he's said that I can go if the right offer comes along.

"It's a bit disappointing but I accept that at this stage in my career perhaps I need to be playing games and I've always said that, if the right offer comes along, I'll definitely have a look at it."

The striker also defended Darren Bent over his controversial £18million move from Sunderland to Aston Villa, which was completed yesterday.

Bent was criticised by Black Cats manager Steve Bruce, who claimed the club and supporters were entitled to feel "massively let down" by the England player.