Ferguson salutes ‘intelligent’ former pupil McLeish

ALEX FERGUSON does not blame Alex McLeish for walking out on Scotland.

McLeish quit the Scotland job after agonisingly failing to reach Euro 2008, taking up the offer to succeed Steve Bruce at Birmingham.

Although it seemed slightly unusual to swap high-level international football, particularly with an improving team, for a Blues outfit beset by boardroom uncertainty, McLeish spoke to Ferguson, his old boss at Aberdeen, about the challenge at St Andrews.

“Alex was on the phone all the time, saying he wanted to have a go at the Premier League,” said Ferguson.

‘‘He is a very intelligent boy and was always a certainty to become a manager. There had been two or three attempts to bring him down here and the euphoria and success of the Scotland team just gave him the bug to have a go.

“He is still a relatively young man and while I am sure he enjoyed the experience of managing Scotland, it was simply that when the chance came for full-time involvement in the daily life of a big club, he went for it.

“I don’t blame him for that and it certainly was not a matter of running out on the Scots.”

McLeish rang Ferguson when Birmingham made their interest in him known.

And Ferguson, whose United side take on Birmingham at Olds Trafford today, backed the choice wholeheartedly. “If you are thinking about a big step like that, you want a club with tradition, history and potential,” he said.

“Birmingham have potential crowd-wise. My father supported them and before the war they were the biggest team in Birmingham.

“I realise that is a long time ago but I also feel they have one or two decent players so, without question, the foundation is there to do well.”

Meanwhile, McLeish has urged his players “to enjoy and not be afraid” of the daunting trio of games confronting them at the start of the New Year.

After today’s trip to Old Trafford and next weekend’s FA Cup tie at Huddersfield, Birmingham visit Arsenal on January 12 and entertain Chelsea on January 19.

McLeish wants his squad to relish the challenges that lie ahead. He said: “We have three great games coming up, three fantastic games on paper, three games that every player in the Birmingham set-up should be relishing and looking forward to.

“The games coming up are brilliant challenges for us and I don’t want anyone in our dressing room frightened of going and playing against such illustrious teams and names.”

Birmingham skipper Damien Johnson could be doubtful for the clash with the Red Devils after a jaw injury forced him to be substituted at half-time against Fulham on Saturday.

But McLeish has a replacement in Mehdi Nafti who impressed in the centre of midfield when he came on as a second-half substitute for Johnson.

Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick could return for Manchester United.