Craig Gardner hopes he will soon be facing his younger brother Gary in Premier League competition.
Blues ace hoping to face brother in cross-city encounter
Craig Gardner hopes he will soon be facing his younger brother Gary in Premier League competition.
Craig is currently on the books of boyhood heroes Birmingham, having graduated through the academy ranks at Aston Villa.
Gary is still with the Villans and recently penned a new three-and-a-half-year contract with the club.
He is yet to make an impression in the Villa first team, but is closing in on full fitness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury.
Craig, who helped Birmingham see off Villa in the Carling Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, is delighted to see his brother doing so well and admits he cannot wait to meet him in the heat of battle.
He said: "It has been a massive week for Birmingham and it just shows how far we have come in the last two or three years.
"But for family, it has been unbelievable with Gary signing the new deal as well at Villa.
Special
"He has done well, he totally deserves everything he gets out of the game.
"Gary did the injury 10 months ago and has come back strong now, and his attitude has been spot on.
"He is a born winner and fingers crossed we will see him sooner rather than later in the Premier League and playing against me. That would be special."
Gardner was on target for Birmingham in their 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Saturday, snatching a late leveller, and he insists confidence is flowing through the side at present.
He said: "We are an honest team all over the pitch, from the keeper to the strikers.
"Everyone is prepared to put their body on the line for the club and that's great to see.
"Being a Bluenose myself, it's great to see players wanting to do well for the club."
