Source: Daily_Mail
'Chucho' is Sullivan's perfect leaving present, says Birmingham boss
David Sullivan may be on the verge of saying farewell to Birmingham City but manager Alex McLeish has thanked the owner for his parting gift.
As Carson Yeung prepares to complete his buy-out of the Midlands club, Sullivan's own personal investment is on the verge of making his mark on the side.
Christian Benitez - known as Chucho, which is the name used on the back of his shirt - made his first start at Hull on Saturday and the Ecuador striker was denied three times by Tigers keeper Boaz Myhill as he tore the sorry Hull defence apart.
Parting gift: Alex McLeish has hailed David Sullivan's final big-money signing for Birmingham, Ecuador striker 'Chucho'
The on-loan striker, who could sign for a record club fee, was far from hindered by the early welcome-to-the-Premier-League head clash with Kamel Zayatte which required four stitches.
'He came alive,' said McLeish, who is delighted with David Sullivan's acquisition.
The Blues manager admitted: 'He wanted to take the chance and if the owner is going to give me players, I will not argue. Berlusconi did with Ancelotti in the past and if he wants to he can give us that kind of input as long as player is someone who can make a difference.
'He was on my radar a long time ago and the only chance I had to see him was on the South American shows late at night and on dvd stuff.
'I still wanted to see him in the flesh but David Sullivan wanted to take the chance and if the chairman is going to give me players, I will not argue. He did say it would be out with budget and I am not going to argue with him especially if he is a player of that potential.'
McLeish has also hailed the impact former Tottenham and Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio has made since his transfer deadline move from Wearside.
The Finland international, who was released by Steve Bruce after just a year at the Stadium of Light, was a last-gasp signing for McLeish, but an important one.
The Scot added: 'He was crucial signing. I was in for a Spanish player called Michel but we could not do it as it was too rich a deal for us.
'I had overspent the budget and I simply needed another midfielder because I can't ask Barry Ferguson, Lee Carsley and Damien Johnson to go through the whole season and Keith Fahey and Lee Bowyer are different types of players so we needed some one extra in midfield.
'Tainio has got a fantastic international pedigree and he is a good club man. I know him well from my encounters against him at Auxerre when I was at Rangers and he is a terrific player and a terrific personality in the dressing room. He is a manager's dream.'
