Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has praised the professionalism of Northern Ireland keeper Maik Taylor, who will make his first Barclays Premier League appearance of the season against Manchester City at St Andrews on Sunday.
Taylor was Birmingham's number one last season and played a major part in them regaining their top flight status at the first attempt.
He lost his place when McLeish signed Joe Hart on a season-long loan from Eastlands, but his ineligibility to face his parent club gives Taylor a rare chance to remind McLeish of his ability.
The former Scotland boss said: "Maik has been brilliant. He has set a very good standard the whole season. He took it on the chin that Joe Hart has gone in ahead of him.
"But it has not dampened his enthusiasm or his attitude. We saw how professional Maik was when helping Northern Ireland get a shut-out away to the Czech Republic recently. Not many international teams do that.
"He's in good form and I have no qualms at all about bringing Maik in. I have to make hard decisions on team selection. They are never easy and they are never personal and it is just about how I see things. I am just glad we have two cracking keepers at the club."
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hard game 4 taylor 2 come back for but his a good pro and im sure his up for it come on big maik we need a big display 2 day
What planet is Eck on, we only have 1 decent keeper and that is Maik Taylor, Hart has a lot to learn and can do so from a true professional in action. Maik has been No. 1 since 2003. He has been the foundation of our solid defence. For 5 years. Suddenly blooming Eck decides to bring in a young whippersnapper and throws him in at No.1, if he was that good he would be giving Shay Given a run for his money and at best he is only No.6 in the pecking order for England.
Harts a good keeper but he can be reckless and make erros or snap desisions like coming out way of his line
At last, a decent keeper, Hart makes too many blunders.
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