Source: Team_Talk
Taylor close to Birmingham return
Taylor has been sidelined for the current campaign because of ankle ligament damage.[LNB]But Blues boss Alex McLeish is confident Taylor will soon be ready to return to reserve-team action, although he may find it difficult to dislodge the impressive current centre-back pairing of Roger Johnson and Scott Dann.[LNB]McLeish said: "Martin Taylor is at a good level of fitness now and should be ready for the festive season or just after.[LNB]"He will be okay for a reserve-team game very soon and we will also look to organise one or two friendlies at the training ground for him."[LNB]City's on-loan midfielder Teemu Tainio has undergone a successful knee operation, but McLeish is refusing to put a date on any possible comeback for the Sunderland player.[LNB]The former Scotland boss said: "Teemu has had the operation and the surgeon is happy with the way it went. But I'm not putting a timescale on when he may return.[LNB]"It seems, every time I do that when a player is injured, I get it horribly wrong."[LNB]Scotland striker Garry O'Connor is making good progress after undergoing a hip operation and full-back David Murphy is also not far away from being fit after rupturing a kneecap last season.[LNB]McLeish said: "We think we got over a bit of a hurdle with David last week and it is now just about pushing on for him."[LNB][LNB][LNB]
