Alex McLeish has hinted defender Martin Taylor could have a future with Birmingham in the Championship.

Taylor was told he was surplus to requirements during the January transfer window and looked set to leave the midlands club.

But McLeish's failure to bring in the targets he wanted plus injuries meant that Taylor remained at City, although he was affected after breaking Arsenal striker Eduardo's leg in February.

Taylor played a big part when Blues were promoted back to the top flight two seasons ago and McLeish recognises the experience possessed by the former Blackburn player.

McLeish said: "The situation is different to what it was in the Premier League. I wanted to take swift and decisive action when I came in January.

"Unfortunately things didn't quite materialise that way and we struggled to get the players we wanted.

"I don't like cutting my nose off to spite my face but I thought at the time it was the right thing to do to tell Martin he could leave.

Contribution

"But he stayed, made a contribution, is still here and he has got huge experience.

"It's fair to say I am not going to be in a rush to get rid of any defenders at the moment."

McLeish added: "In fairness to Martin when I first came in here he played solidly for a few games. When he came back after the Eduardo situation at the end of the season I don't think he was quite himself, not the player we had seen previously.

"I would hope he has got over what happened with Eduardo psychologically. He has to get on with things."

Loan idea

McLeish admitted he will look to take advantage of the loan system and bring in Premier League players in the same way as his predecessor Steve Bruce.

Nicklas Bendtner, Fabrice Muamba and Sebastian Larsson came initially on loan from Arsenal and played a major part in the 2006-07 promotion campaign.

McLeish said: "We will look to use the loan system. Tony Pulis has been a master of it for the last couple of years and performed a fantastic feat to get Stoke promoted.

"Larsson, Muamba and Bendtner came in late in the day, two years ago on loan and we all know what they did for Birmingham that season.

"If there are players out there who can do a similar job now, I will not hesitate to try and get them in."