Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish is delighted with the form of Martin Taylor since his return to the first team.

"Tiny's long in the tooth," said McLeish. "He's a regular Premier League player. He's been in both divisions, he knows what it's like. He's a good professional.

"He's never complained once when I said, in the opening week, that I would be looking for another centre-half.

"He kept his head down, he always worked with us in first team training and I said you never know, we might need the big fella.

"That's the way it's turned out and he has brought us some presence to the team that, not only are we a young team, but I don't think we are the biggest team in the world.

"In our last match at West Ham they had five, six six-foot-plus players in the box against us and you've really got to work hard to compete against them.

"But Tiny brings a bit more presence I felt was badly needed and I have been pleased with his performances."