McLeish reveals Phillips talks

Striker's match-winning display attributed to assurances

Last updated: 7th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

He might lose his teeth, he might go bald, and his legs will go at some stage, but he will always have that magnificent technique and touch of a top player.

Alex McLeish on Kevin Phillips
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Birmingham manager Alex McLeish believes Kevin Phillips' heroics against Wolves was a reward for assurances offered to the striker over his future at St Andrews.

Phillips scored twice in the final 10 minutes of Sunday's Midlands derby to earn his side a 2-1 win after entering the game as a substitute shortly after the hour mark.

Kevin Doyle's first-half goal appeared set to earn Premier League relegation-threatened Wolves a surprise win, but Birmingham's 36-year-old crushed their hopes.

McLeish thinks Phillips' display was evidence that the ex-England man's spirits have been raised after the Blues resisted the temptation to sell in the winter transfer window.

The Birmingham manager told Sky Sports: "He has been injured a couple of weeks and maybe has not played as much in the first half of the season as he would have liked.

Confidence

"The team was going well, I wanted to gather a bit of momentum, I wanted to build confidence and Kevin, as players do, lost a bit of morale at not playing.

"But I spoke to Kevin after the transfer window closed and said he still had a big part to play.

"By goodness he has given us a fantastic return today."

McLeish added: "Kevin will never lose that ability he has got in the box. He might lose his teeth, he might go bald, and his legs will go at some stage, but he will always have that magnificent technique and touch of a top player."

The Scot also admitted Phillips probably deserves a starting place, but is still to make his mind up about his line-up at West Ham in midweek.

Big Impact

He said: "I still feel he's going to be a big impact player for us, but after today he probably deserves a start.

"I've got to consider the right tactics for the team but, if you get the ball into the box, Kevin will score.

"He looks bright and sharp enough to continue playing after this season, but he will make the decision on things like that."

Phillips has had a phenomenal scoring record against Wolves wherever he has played, including a hat-trick for Southampton in 2003 and four goals in two games for West Brom during the 2006-2007 season.

McLeish said: "I knew his scoring record was very good against Wolves. I knew it was a weapon that had done damage to them in the past, and it has happened again, I am glad to say."

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Comments (1)

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Wayne Smart says...

Phillips the Wolves Nemesis......sheer class Long may he continue scoring goals in a blue shirt although this may well be his finale season for us. Thank you Kev

Posted 16:59 7th February 2010
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