Birmingham boss Alex McLeish insists on-loan goalkeeper Joe Hart will not be guaranteed a first team place next season. McLeish has told Hart he will have to fight it out for a spot with last season's first-choice goalkeeper Maik Taylor.

McLeish told Birmingham's official website: "Joe comes in and it will be a fantastic competition between him and Maik, two great goalkeepers.

"He obviously hasn't come in to sit on the bench but I am not making any guarantees, it's as simple as that.

"We have to see how the lads do and how the competition affects them. I'm sure the two of them will handle it, being part of the goalkeepers' union.

"Joe lost his place to Shay Given last season and probably felt a little hard done by, but he got on with it, didn't hold any grudges with Shay. In fact I think the two of them are great pals.

"It's just one of these things that happen in football and you have to deal with it mentally, as well as the physical side of things."