Blues ready to tie up Gardner deal

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish expects to finally tie up the transfer of Villa midfielder Craig Gardner.

Blues have been in talks with their Second-City rivals over a deal for the 23-year-old since the transfer window opened and it is understood a deal of £3million up front plus add-ons has been agreed between the clubs.

Claret and blue academy product Gardner, who has found first-team opportunities limited at Villa Park, has already passed a medical at St Andrew's.

McLeish said: "I am hoping to get it tied up today. We have got decisions made from afar which have given us a hiccup or two, but hopefully he will be a Birmingham player by the end of today's play.

"Craig will be a quality signing."

The Blues boss now takes his in-form side, who are unbeaten in their last 15 games, to Stamford Bridge to face high-flying Chelsea tomorrow night.

But McLeish insists his team can take confidence from their performances away at the big boys so far this term – even if their results haven't matched them.

He added: "We won't be favourites to win this one but we have already gone to Old Trafford, Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham. We may not have got too many points, but we have gone and put in good performances.

"The players have got great confidence and great belief. We are playing against one of the leading teams in the country and people expect us to lose and lose this long unbeaten run.

"But we go there with belief and we have shown that at all the other tough venues."

McLeish rates Chelsea and England skipper John Terry as a "role model" for his centre-halves Scott Dann and Roger Johnson, who will be aiming to shut out the Premier League title chasers.

The manager said: "They are a throw back to the old centre halves. They throw themselves in for everything. John Terry is probably a role model for Roger and Scott. They dovetail well and their partnership has grown.

"I am not going to push them for international recognition but they have time on their side, it is their first sojourn in the Premier League.

"The next challenge for them is to have a great season next year."