Source: Daily_Mail
Kris Boyd wants to play for me at Birmingham, says Blues boss Alex McLeish
Alex McLeish insists Rangers striker Kris Boyd wants to play under him again at Birmingham as he challenged his current players to stay unbeaten for the remainder of the season.[LNB]But the Blues boss, whose side face Liverpool at St Andrew's tomorrow, admits it will come down to what is the right move for Boyd and his family this summer.[LNB]Boyd's current contract at Ibrox runs out in two months and he has already worked with McLeish when he was in charge of the Gers and Scotland.[LNB]McLeish said: 'We have spoken to Kris but that was a few weeks ago and it seems to have gone a little bit quiet.[LNB]Wanted south of the border: Boyd[LNB]'It is still ongoing. He is talking to other clubs. I said that a couple of weeks ago - and that is still the case.[LNB]'I know Boyd would like to play for me again but it is what has got to be right for him and his family.[LNB]'We are working on a number of things now and I don't like discussing our business publicly.'[LNB]McLeish could also have to look for another keeper to replace on-loan Joe Hart with Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini indicating he may keep the England player at Eastlands next season.[LNB]McLeish believes Hart will not be happy if he has to return to City as number two to Shay Given after impressing during his season-long spell with Birmingham.[LNB]But he accepts the ultimate decision will come down to Mancini in terms of deciding whether Hart can return to St Andrew's for a second campaign.[LNB]McLeish said: 'Will it disappoint me if Mancini keeps Joe Hart? Not half as much as it will disappoint Joe Hart if he doesn't start in the Manchester City team.[LNB]'But he is a Manchester City player, and it is up to Manchester City to make that decision. They have the rights to that player and we can only sit and twiddle our thumbs.[LNB]'If Mancini makes an early decision on that, then we have to move on it and do something else. At least it would give me time to prepare for something else and it would be great if Mancini would confirm that.'[LNB] Should he stay or should he go back? Hart[LNB]McLeish can take heart from Birmingham's home performances against Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal which have all ended in draws.[LNB]But he expects Liverpool to be fired up as they strive to keep alive their Champions League hopes despite having to play an hour with 10 men in the midweek Europa League clash away to Benfica.[LNB]McLeish said: 'We will do our best to stay unbeaten at home for the rest of the season and I know we are capable of doing it. The evidence is there.[LNB]'We've done well against the big teams and we've got to try and challenge ourselves to do that, try and remain unbeaten in every game, never mind the home games.[LNB]'Teams don't relish coming here but Liverpool are in great form at the moment. They were unlucky in Europe on Thursday night and had to put up with one or two difficult refereeing decisions.[LNB]'But they were certainly in top form against Sunderland last week and they have to go for broke.[LNB]'There is no doubt we face a hard game from that point of view but we have to show Liverpool we are very difficult to play against at St Andrew's and reproduce how we played against the other top clubs.[LNB]'They know they have to go for it to try and get fourth place. They played on Thursday night but sometimes tiredness goes out of the window when players are in a situation like that.[LNB]'I hope they are tired, I hope we can capitalise but it doesn't matter whether they are tired or not. We've got to play at our best as we did against Chelsea, Manchester Utd, Arsenal, Spurs here.[LNB]'We have to play at our top level regardless of what happens with Liverpool, whether Rafa Benitez rests some players or not.'[LNB] Kris Boyd delaying decision on Rangers future until the summerFabio Capello should realise Birmingham star is no ordinary Joe and give Hart his World Cup breakBIRMINGHAM CITY FC
