Birmingham City strike force still has the power, says Alex McLeish

Feb 3 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

“To have brought one of those other players in, on lucrative contracts, who doesn’t have his ability, would have been a bit of an insult and wrong.

“Kevin knows the Premier League, he is a proven goalscorer, and I’m sure he will be eager to take his opportunity when it comes.”

Phillips has been an unused substitute on 10 occasions in the Premier League this season.

He has made only three starts, one apiece in the league – in August – the Carling and FA Cups.

He came off the bench to score his only goal so far of the campaign against Bolton Wanderers at the end of September.

McLeish, meanwhile, said Blues’ recruitment plans for the summer would soon be starting.

“We will be sitting down with Michael Dunford and Peter Pannu and the scouting staff in the next couple of weeks to discuss the way ahead and we will be getting a list prepared well in advance,’’ he added.

“We prepared well for this January window. Unfortunately the ones we really courted we weren’t able to bring in.

“So what’s done is done and we now concentrate on the remainder of the season and identifying more of the type of players we would like to bring to this football club to help us progress.”