Fahey closing on Birmingham return, says Clark

The prospect of Keith Fahey being available for the World Cup qualifiers in March has been enhanced by the news that Birmingham City expect him to return shortly to the club after being on compassionate leave for the last two months.

Fahey has not played since Birmingham’s 1-1 draw against Leicester City on October 20 and has been back in Dublin been since the second week of November for “personal and family reasons”.

Birmingham’s manager Lee Clark said yesterday he now hopes to see Fahey in the next few days.