Eck still believes in Phillips

Phillips has had few first-team opportunities this season following the arrival of Nikola Zigic and Matt Derbyshire to complement the strikers already at the club.

But the impact of the 37-year-old during the past few games has impressed McLeish.

Phillips scored the winner in the FA Cup clash with Coventry and came off the bench to earn the penalty which enabled Blues to draw with Manchester City at St Andrew's.

McLeish said: "There was a lot of interest in Kevin on transfer deadline day but I had to bat it away. I thought `I can't let Kevin go' but, at the same time, if I'm keeping him, I've got to be fair to him.

"He did really well in the Coventry game, earned his introduction against Manchester City, won us the penalty, and we've got to think about him for the rest of the games.

"I'm delighted he is still here and making a tremendous contribution. People with a brain as quick as Kevin, that can be the difference."

Source: PA

Source: PA