Source: Team_Talk
McLeish happy with Birmingham lot
The Blues boss has been heralded for guiding his side to eighth in the table following their promotion from the Championship last term.[LNB]Much of Birmingham's success has been built on a water-tight defence, while their one Achilles heel has been the lack of a regular goalscorer.[LNB]Goals have been spread throughout the side and while Christian Benitez and Cameron Jerome have often impressed performance-wise, they have lacked a clinical edge in front of goal.[LNB]McLeish was strongly linked with Liverpool's Ryan Babel and Roman Pavlyuchenko of Tottenham but failed to land either on deadline day, while his bid to sign Aruna Dindane also broke down.[LNB]"We have got ourselves into a good position in the league and we know there is still a lot of hard work to be done," he told the Birmingham Mail.[LNB]"Now the window has shut, we move on with these players and we all have to recognise what they have done so far and place our faith in them to reproduce their performances again.[LNB]"Cameron Jerome and Christian Benitez have formed a very good partnership for us during the unbeaten run.[LNB]"And we have James McFadden who can play up front. It is not a position he is uncomfortable with.[LNB]"With Kevin Phillips, too, we have four very good strikers there.[LNB]"Although Garry O'Connor is still injured, we have to trust these guys to go through to the end of the season."[LNB]McLeish believes Kevin Phillip's imminent return to fitness following a groin complaint will serve his squad well between now and the campaign's close.[LNB]"I had numerous players put into me who had a reputation in the game, who were in their 30s," he added.[LNB]"I thought 'hang on a minute, I've got Kevin Phillips here'. He's still a terrific player.[LNB]"Because of the way we have played, he hasn't really had a look-in and he's naturally disappointed he hasn't figured as much as he would have liked.[LNB]"But there is every chance Kevin will see more game-time and make a contribution."[LNB][LNB] Barclays Prem W/out Top 4 2009/10 Win Outright: Birmingham 66/1
