Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish says Martin Taylor must wait for his chance to return to the first team.

Taylor is unlikely to even travel to Saturday's match at Reading as Blues manager Alex McLeish wants to deploy other players as his substitutes to give him cover in other areas.

The former Blackburn player has served a three match ban for his sending-off against Arsenal when his challenge on Eduardo resulted in the striker suffering a broken leg.

Taylor played 90 minutes for the reserves against Tottenham in midweek but is set to have to wait before returning to first team reckoning.

McLeish said: "At the moment, I am satisfied with the central defensive performances. That is what happens sometimes when you go out of the team, unluckily through suspension or injury.

"Someone comes in and it is up to the person who comes in to make it hard for me to change things - and the two guys in the centre of defence have done well.

"I need to make sure I cover myself in other areas and it is doubtful Martin will travel with us.

"He is quite a fit, big guy but, until anyone gets back in the first team, it is right they should play some reserve games, Queudrue, De Ridder and Schmitz have all been playing there and it is the beauty of reserve team football."