Keith Fahey has signed a new deal that will keep him at Birmingham until the summer of 2013.
Ireland international signs one-year extension at St Andrews
Keith Fahey has extended his stay at Birmingham after signing a new deal that will keep him at St Andrews until the summer of 2013.
The 27-year-old, who joined the Premier League outfit from League of Ireland side St Patrick's Athletic in January 2009, has signed a one-year extension at the club after establishing himself as a senior squad member under manager Alex McLeish.
The Dublin-born midfielder made his top-flight debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford and has scored four goals in 53 appearances for the Blues.
"Keith has proved to me that he's a Premier League player," McLeish told Birmingham's
official website.
"Having had trials that didn't work out perhaps the way he would have wanted to at clubs when he was younger, he is a brilliant example to young players in that if at first you don't succeed you should try and try again. He got a second chance and he has grabbed it. His is an inspirational story."
Fahey had an unsuccessful spell as a trainee at Arsenal before a switch to Aston Villa in 2000 that brought just one first-team outing. He subsequently returned to Ireland before Birmingham offered him a second chance to make his mark in England.
"Keith is a brilliant lad who is well-liked and is a great professional," McLeish added.
"All of those qualities make him a manager's dream but it shouldn't be forgotten that he's a very good footballer too."
The midfielder's impressive Premier League form led to him being handed his first senior cap for Republic of Ireland in a friendly win against Paraguay at the end of May.
