Birmingham City are delighted their on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has been named in the PFA's Team of the Year.

Hart was a surprised choice by his fellow pros.

Brum boss Alex McLeish said: "It's fantastic for Joe. I'm thrilled for him. It's well deserved, too.

"I sat him down at the start of the season, when we signed him and I said 'I hope you go to the World Cup as a Birmingham player'. To be voted in the PFA Team of the Year by your fellow pros is a real honour.

"You look at the keepers in the Premier League, like Brad Friedel and Edwin van der Sar, and Joe's up with them."

Hart went through a dodgy period when he joined Birmingham but showed character to come through it.

McLeish added: "We spoke to him and tweaked a few things. He has got better."