Birmingham have taken up the 12-month option on midfielder Medhi Nafti's current contract - and he will face Everton at St Andrews on Saturday.It means Nafti will now stay at the club until the end of the 2008-09 campaign.

McLeish said: "We haven't opened talks about a new contract, but we have told Medhi's agent that we would like to take up our 12-month option on him."

Nafti will come into the side in place of skipper Damien Johnson, who will start a three-match ban for his sending off against Wigan last weekend.

McLeish believes Nafti is a shining example to any player when they are out of the side.

The former Scotland boss said: "Medhi has been as good as gold. He's been a great example to the other players who go out of the team.

"He has shown a great professionalism and approached things in the right way - not that he is happy about being left out.

"He is a determined man who, like everyone else, thinks he should be in the team and I've got to applaud his team spirit and he now deserves his chance."

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