McLeish planning squad overhaul

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is set to reshape his squad in the summer with "significant" additions and "eight or nine players likely to leave" - according to the club's chief executive Michael Dunford.McLeish only managed to bring in playmaker Michel from Sporting Gijon and midfielder Craig Gardner from Aston Villa during the January transfer window.But Dunford predicts the former Scotland boss will be busy with ins and outs from St Andrew's when the window reopens in four months' time.He said: "I expect it to be quite a busy summer. We will gear ourselves up for what I'm sure will be significant transfer movement in the summer."There are also eight or nine players likely to be leaving the club which means from a numerical point of view, we need new players of quality to supplement the ones we have got as well."

Hart happy to reprise City loan

Goalkeeper Joe Hart has revealed he would be the open to the idea of returning to Birmingham City on loan next season.

Hart, 22, has been in impressive form since joining the Blues on a season-long loan last summer from Manchester City.

The former England Under-21 keeper was allowed to leave Eastlands on a temporary basis following big-spending City's acquisition of Shay Given 12 months ago.

Blues boss Alex McLeish recently failed with an approach to sign Hart on a permanent basis, but the player himself has now revealed that he could be tempted to return to St Andrew's on loan next term should he remain behind Given in the City pecking order.

"My situation is out there on the pitch," he told the Birmingham Mail.

"That's all I've come to Birmingham to do, play football here until the end of the season. Whatever happens, happens.

"Would I come back for another season? I'm not going to rule anything out. It's exciting stuff and it's nice to be wanted, obviously after what I had last year.

"Shay Given is a great goalie. I think him, Brad Friedel, David James and Edwin van der Sar have been the best in the Premier League. They are the people I look up to. I can't see it changing for a while.

"It's up to Manchester City what they do, but I don't look too far in the future."

City reject Birmingham Hart bid

Birmingham have failed with an approach to Manchester City to sign on-loan goalkeeper Joe Hart on a permanent basis.

The 22-year-old shot-stopper has taken the plaudits following his form since joining the Blues on a season-long loan from City in August.

First-team opportunities at the big-spending Eastlands club had dried up following their signing of Shay Given from Newcastle United 12 months ago.

Hart is being mentioned as possible member of England's World Cup squad for South Africa and McLeish approached City over retaining the keeper on a full-time basis.

However, he is still held in high esteem by City and they have no intention of letting the former Shrewsbury Town youngster move on during the transfer window.

"City will take Joe Hart back at the end of the season," McLeish told The Guardian.

"There is no chance of us signing him in January. We asked the question and they said that won't happen. We never had an option from City to buy him.

"He has the comfort of knowing City really want him and he is part of their future."

However, McLeish is not giving up hope of being able to re-sign Hart for next season.

He added: "Joe Hart remains a big part of the future. But you couldn't rule out that Joe stays with us in the summer.

"They said he was going out for experience to improve and he has improved.

"It doesn't preclude him from coming back and we can negotiate with City for another year."

Everton 1-1 Birmingham City

Midfielder Sebastian Larsson's first-half strike ensured Birmingham City's unbeaten run was extended to eight games in a backs-to-the-wall 1-1 draw with Everton.

Alex McLeish's troops looked to be heading to defeat after the home side were rewarded for a flying start by Russian Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's early strike. However, the Blues weathered a first-half onslaught at Goodison Park equalising through Larsson in the 22nd minute, before battling treacherous weather conditions to hold on after the break.

Birmingham had barely settled before finding themselves one down in the fifth minute when midfielder Bilyaletdinov fired home following striker Louis Saha's flick on.

Saha thought he had gone from provider to scorer moments later lashing home after being put through by Tim Cahill - however the former Manchester United frontman was deemed to be offside. Everton were threatening to run riot at Goodison Park and former Millwall midfielder Cahill had a glorious chance in the 11th minute but his first-time shot sailed narrowly over.

Disaster struck for the Toffees after 22 minutes when completely against the run of play Ecuadorian Christian Benitez found space in the hosts box and picked out Larsson, who calmly slotted home.

Birmingham gradually started to grab a foothold on the game at, but still the Toffees looked more dangerous after the interval, with Cahill twice going close as the rain poured.

Firstly the Australia international was denied at the near post by Birmingham's Roger Johnson following Leighton Baines' teasing cross.

Then, after Baines and Marouane Fellaini combined to set up Cahill, again his neat flick was cleared away by the ever-present Johnson at the back.

Nothing would fall for Everton and after Birmingham stuck all eleven men behind the ball Saha volleyed wide and headed a free-kick over.

The Toffees were given four minutes of added time to find the net, but failed to do so as the visitors got the point their resolute display deserved.

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Blues boss set to pick same XI

Veteran midfielder Lee Carsley reported to training with a stiff back on Sunday but it is not expected to keep him out of contention against Sam Allardyce's team.
McLeish is again likely to field an unchanged line-up as City look to extend an unbeaten run of seven matches from which they have collected 17 points.
David Murphy, Garry O'Connor, Martin Taylor and Teemu Tainio remain long-term injury absentees.
The match kicks off at 8pm.
Birmingham (from): Hart, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden, Jerome, Benitez, Maik Taylor, Phillips, Fahey, McSheffrey, O'Shea, Carsley, Vignal.

Phillips ready for Blues return

The veteran striker has been sidelined for the past fortnight and will provide back-up for first-choice strikers Cameron Jerome and Christian Benitez.
However, fellow forward Garry O'Connor and on-loan Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio remain long-term absentees after hip and knee operations respectively.
Other than that, Blues manager Alex McLeish has no fresh injury problems as his side look to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches.
Blues (from): Hart, Maik Taylor, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden, Jerome, Benitez, Fahey, McSheffrey, Queudrue, O'Shea, Carsley, Vignal, Phillips.