Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish is happy to turn to Maik Taylor for today's clash at Manchester City.

Taylor replaces regular No1 Joe Hart, who will sit out the game at Eastlands on Sunday as it is against his parent club.

McLeish said: "Maik is still a good pro. He does everything right and is still sharp.

"He is a quality goalkeeper and Northern Ireland will use him again next season and he has been very good for Joe Hart. I think in the beginning Maik might have seen it as a wee battle with a rookie goalkeeper with limited Premiership experience.

"But Maik is man enough and professional enough and intelligent enough to see Joe was making the position his own.

"As far as I am concerned, Joe is a cert to go to South Africa with England this summer.

"Whether he features or not we will have to see. But it will be a great experience for him. I remember going to the World Cup myself in the heady days when Scotland qualified.

"You get great experience and education from these tournaments."