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Page last updated at 14:56 GMT, Thursday, 5 November 2009

McLeish relishing keeper dilemma

Hart (l) and Taylor
McLeish is happy that Hart (l) and Taylor are in competition

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has no qualms about having to decide between keepers Joe Hart and Maik Taylor for Monday's trip to Liverpool.

Taylor kept a clean sheet against Manchester City last weekend when on-loan Hart was ineligible.

"I've not made a decision," said McLeish. "But Maik has given me a happy dilemma. It was a terrific performance.

"I've discussed it already with my coaches and Dave Watson, my goalkeeping coach," McLeish told BBC WM.

On-loan Hart had played in all 10 of Blues' previous Premier League games this season, but was not allowed to play against his parent club, Man City .

And McLeish admitted: "Joe's out of the team by a bit of default.

"You can keep chopping and changing your goalkeepers, then you can get yourself in a bit of a fankle (muddle), so I'm considering it carefully."

There had been some speculation that Hart's place was coming under pressure prior to the Man City game, particularly after some hairy moments against the crossed ball.

But McLeish added: "I don't think it's fair to say his place was in doubt.

"If we were losing games and he's costing us goals, then we'd have to look at that.

"He would admit a couple of things, like the high balls, but I don't think a lot of people see other details where Joe is exceptional."



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see also
Taylor hoping to keep his place
03 Nov 09 |  Birmingham


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