Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish says there's every chance of turning the loan of Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart into a permanent signing.

“Do we have a chance of signing him? It’s possible,” said the Blues manager.

“But I don’t think we have discussed that at this moment. I don’t think there’s anything in the deal that says ‘if things go according to plan’.

“Maybe if he comes, competes with Maik Taylor, gets in and does brilliant then he’s probably going to be in England’s plans for the World Cup and I would think Man City would want to keep an asset like that.”

But Hart surely wouldn’t want to return to Eastlands to find he remains second choice?

“No,” agreed McLeish. “The only way he could probably go back would be as No.1.”