Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish rates fullback Stephen Carr as one of the great bargains of the Premiership.

Carr arrived at St Andrews this year after over 12 months out of football following a release from Newcastle United.

“There’s no doubt he’s been a really tremendous acquisition,” acknowledges McLeish, “after plucking him from nowhere I suppose, when he had announced his retirement.

“He reads the game well and that’s his experience.

“He’s a quality defender and he very rarely loses in the air at the back post. He’s great at getting his body into the forwards and he’s got a good spring himself, but his engine – he’s got a fantastic capacity to go up and down the pitch.”