Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson has warned Alex McLeish it is absolutely imperative he keeps hold of Mikael Forssell for next season.The Finnish international's current contract ends in the summer although there is a two-year option that can be taken up if both parties reach agreement.

Forssell has looked revitalised in partnership with January signing James McFadden and scored a hat-trick in Birmingham's 4-1 win over Tottenham in their last home game.

Now the partnership is set to be renewed against Newcastle at St Andrews on Monday after McFadden was only used as a substitute at Portsmouth in midweek after his partner gave birth.

Larsson said: "When Mikael is fit, like he is now, and getting a few games under his belt, everyone knows what he can do.

"He got a hat-trick in the last home game and was fantastic and Mikael and James McFadden have looked really good together lately as a partnership.

"It is important to keep a proven goalscorer at the club, definitely. Mikael has got more to his game than just scoring goals and hopefully it is something Mikael and the club can sort out."

Forssell's future is likely to depend on which division Birmingham are in next season and the club may not be able to afford to keep him if they are relegated from the Premier League as he is one of their highest earners.

Blues will come up against another proven marksman in Michael Owen on Monday with Larsson admitting it would be foolish to dismiss the threat of the England striker because of his patchy form this season with Newcastle.

He said: "It will dangerous to write Michael Owen off - and we won't write him off. In fact, Newcastle have got a lot of big names and a lot of good players.

"You can't write anyone of his calibre off because he can hurt you with his sharpness in front of goal.

"Maybe it hasn't gone as he would have wanted at Newcastle because of injuries but, at the same time, you know what he can do. We've got to be on our toes all over the pitch."

Larsson is confident Blues can bounce back from their 4-2 reversal at Fratton Park and victory on Monday would take them above Newcastle.

He said: "It's so close this year at the bottom end of the table and there are probably six or seven teams fighting to stay up. It's unbelievably tight.

"If we can get a good result at home to Newcastle then we will be flying again. We're confident we can do that, especially as we are at St Andrew's where we've been good of late.

"Portsmouth was bitterly disappointing but we have to put it aside and move on. We have got a massive game on Monday and we have to go into that with confidence."

Meanwhile, Blues central defender Martin Taylor is poised to make his playing comeback in Tuesday's reserve team clash with Tottenham.

Taylor will serve the third game of a three-match ban against Newcastle for his sending-off against Arsenal when his mistimed tackle resulted in Eduardo breaking his leg.

Blues boss Alex McLeish has to decide whether to then bring Taylor back into contention for next weekend's clash at Reading.

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