Express & Star

Alex McLeish believes midfielder James McFadden is vital to the future of the Blues - regardless of which division they are playing in next season.

McLeish has welcomed McFadden’s pledge to stay with City irrespective of whether or not they retain their Barclays Premier League status.

He paid £5million to Everton for McFadden during the January transfer window and the Scotland international responded with four goals and several assists before he suffered a knee injury.

But McFadden showed his commitment to Blues with a return ahead of schedule after undergoing keyhole surgery. McLeish said: “It is great that James has said he will stay. He has nailed his colours to the mast.

“He has come here, I would hope, for the long haul. He sees the potential of the club.

“When he first came here, he was really on fire and he has been through a lot in the last three or four weeks. Getting a knee injury at this stage wasn’t ideal for the boy or the club. But he came back and turned up for work only 16 days after the operation and that tells you everything about the attitude of James.

“He is the type of person and player I would like to have at Birmingham City. I’m still positive in terms of the outcome this weekend.

“But if it doesn’t go as we plan, then we need people like McFadden to help us make an assault at whatever level we are playing at.”