McLeish Quite Fancies Our Fahey

St Patrick’s Athletic have cashed in on their prized asset, Keith Fahey, with Birmingham the destination for the midfield playmaker.

Yesterday reports emerged that St Pat’s had agreed the fee, rumoured to be in the region of €350,000 (likely to rise) and today Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has spoken of his delight in capturing the Irishman on Birminghams official website www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk.

McLeish had reportedly watched Fahey on several occasions this season, and when speaking to his clubs website, he was quick to dispel any worries about the step up from the League of Ireland Premier Division and the Championship in England.

“We've watched him a few times and we've also watched him in the Hertha Berlin double header and he didn't look out of place against top German players and some Brazilians in their team as well,” said McLeish.

“Keith will be hungry. Of course you think about the level he's playing at the moment but the one thing for sure is that he knows how to pass the football. I know the other Irish boys who have come into English football have acquitted themselves extremely well - Doyle, the two Hunt brothers at Reading.

“I feel that Keith will have the bit between his teeth to show that he can cut it in English football. He's a central midfielder and from what I've seen of him he's got vision, passes a ball accurately, seems to have a good engine and I look forward to working with him.”

“Quite simply if he comes and is showing better than the players that are already here we won't hesitate to put him in," added the Blues boss.

Fahey, whose previous experience of the English game was as a teenage trainee at Arsenal and Villa, was recently awarded PFAI player of the year and will leave a massive hole to fill in the centre of the Richmond Park side.