Blues manager Alex McLeish is hoping that his side will gain a major boost now that Barry Ferguson decided not to return to international football.
Ferguson recently turned down a plea from Scotland manager Craig Levein to come out of international retirement, opting to take the advise of the Birmingham manager who told the player he might struggle to keep up his club form should he return to the Scotland fold.
Mcleish said: ‘It’s good news for me and Birmingham because of the physical demands of the Premier League on a player.’
He added: ‘Barry was magnificent for us last season and hopefully he will be able to maintain an edge, freshness and sharpness by playing just for Birmingham.
‘I am not saying he wouldn’t have been able to do that had he played for Scotland but it would certainly have been a test for him.
‘He was immense for us and we hope he can do the same again.’
