McSheffrey: Going nowhere

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• Gary McSheffrey
• Levan Tskitishvili

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Birmingham boss Alex McLeish says Gary McSheffrey will not be leaving the club.

McSheffrey had been linked with a return to former club Coventry, while Watford were also thought to be interested in the winger.

McLeish confirmed he had received some enquiries for McSheffrey, but says the player remains part of his plans at St Andrews.

Staying

"There is no chance he will be leaving. We have had inquiries about him, but we are not prepared to do anything.

"Gary has done very well for me, he has worked extremely hard for the team and it hasn't quite gone his way of late.

"But we know what he is capable of, he is a very talented player and although it was hard that he found himself not involved the other night, that does not mean to say he is out of my thoughts completely.

"And, if anyone was seriously thinking about Gary, then they would have to be talking about a serious, big money offer anyway, as is the case with all of our players."

Work permit blow

Meanwhile, Birmingham have abandoned hopes of signing Georgian international Levan Tskitishvili after failing to obtain a work permit for the midfielder.

McLeish had been hoping to sign the 31-year-old until the end of the season after he parted company with Greek club Panionios, but they have not been able to gain a work permit for Tskitishvili

Blues assistant boss Roy Aitken said: "We haven't got permission to sign

Levan. That has been knocked backed which is a disappointment. His application for a work permit has been rejected so that is dead.

"The manager said that was it more or less finished with. He is a top class player and I am surprised he hasn't got a work permit because he has played numerous times for his country and for numerous years.

"But you are in other people's hands with these things."