Faddy delight with Blues move

McFadden: Happy to work with McLeish again

James McFadden admits Alex McLeish was a key factor in his decision to join Birmingham City from Everton.

The Scotland international has been reunited with his former national team boss after signing a three-and-a-half year contract at St Andrews.

McFadden is keen to play regular football at Birmingham and feels McLeish can help him to reach his potential.

"I am delighted by the move. Obviously I know the manager from his time as Scotland manager," McFadden told the club's official website.

Grateful

"He tried to sign me when he was the Rangers manager and I am pleased that he has shown the level of commitment that he has done to bring me to the club and I'll be forever grateful to him for that.

"Birmingham are a big club with loads of potential. They have some good players and obviously the manager was a big factor in me coming here.

"He gets the best out of his players and, as I keep saying, he is one of the biggest reasons I came here.

"Hopefully he can get the best out of me. He gives you a lot of belief and he lets you play and he wants you to do well for him."

Desperate

Blues have also signed David Murphy from Hibernian and the former Middlesbrough full-back is looking forward to playing in the Premier League again.

Murphy said: "It's a great move. There's always that little doubt in your mind wondering if the deal will go through because these things do take a while, but I was just desperate to get down here and sign the contract.

"I've always said that I want to come back to the Premiership and I think that Birmingham is the right club for me.

"This is where I want to play my football. I see it as the best league in the world and I'm really happy to be here."